Behind every great student is a great teacher. These teachers make learning fun by thinking outside the box and creating classroom experiences that resonate with their students. They serve many roles in their schools, as spelling coaches, school bee coordinators and judges; more often than not, they are motivators who encourage their students to be the best they can be. In the “Teacher Feature,” we celebrate these educators and their commitment to their students' education.
Through Kindle's presenting sponsorship of the Bee and the Spellebrity Video Contest during National Reading Month, we have recently been able to focus on the importance of reading more than in years past. We truly believe that great spellers are great readers, and this week's "Teacher Feature" recipient puts this idea into practice through the efforts that she champions in her school. Today, we are proud to highlight Lynette McSorley, a seventh grade language arts teacher at Meadowlawn Middle School in St. Petersburg, Florida.
A Chicago native and graduate of the University of Illinois, Mrs. McSorley initially relocated to Florida to begin a career in accounting. However, Ms. Linda Stone, the school's spelling bee representative who nominated Mrs. McSorley, explained that it just wasn't in the cards. As she put it, Mrs. McSorley is "great with numbers but found her passion was writing and working with children." She provides a warm and welcoming environment for her students and, as a mother herself, acts as a nurturing figure for them. As a testament to her relationships with students, Ms. Stone said, "When a former student appears on campus, you can bet they are here to visit their favorite teacher, Mrs. McSorley!"
Mrs. McSorley organizes a few academic competitions throughout the year that complement the language arts instruction that takes place within the classroom. Along with heading up her school's spelling bee, she leads the Battle of the Books initiative each year. For Mrs. McSorley, this project involves more than simply picking books and scheduling the competition. She reads all 10 of the books and then works one-on-one with students to help them prepare. Preparing for the spelling bee or Battle of the Books is just one learning technique that Mrs. McSorley's students use. She also sets up small groups that transition in rotations, working on spelling, vocabulary and reading skills.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee would like to thank Mrs. McSorley for recognizing the importance of academic competition to get students involved in and excited about learning. Through her emphasis on reading in and out of the classroom, her students will readily grasp language arts concepts that will continue to benefit them throughout their lives.
If you would like to nominate an educator for an upcoming “Teacher Feature,” fill out this brief survey about the teacher you wish you nominate.