First grade inclusion teacher receives award
Amy Landis, a first-grade teacher at Sewell School said, “I feel it’s important to start our day off on a positive and energetic vibe. It really sets the tone.”
Normally, Landis and co-teacher Elizabeth Dunlap gather the students on the carpet, greet each other, review the calendar and morning message and sing a song.
While each day is special to Landis, one recent Wednesday morning is one “I will remember for the rest of my teaching career,” she said, because it was the day Landis was awarded Teacher of the Year.
Superintendent Robert Fisicaro, fellow Sewell teacher Joann Crouthamel and other members of administration entered the room with a bouquet of flowers and joined Landis, Dunlap and the first graders on the carpet to celebrate the award.
“Our kids immediately became quiet, intrigued and a bit shy when all the grownups came in the room,” she said, but soon after the superintendent began explaining the importance of the award.
“After all the pictures were taken, the students each came up to me and embraced me,” Landis said.
Student Scarlett McKenna held up a fake microphone and asked her teacher, ‘How does it feel to be teacher of the year?’”
“I was laughing so hard. It was so genuine, so kind,” Landis said.
Throughout the course of each year, Landis teaches her first graders how to read, write, the basics of math and more. However, she said what she really tries to do is “instill in them true integrity.”
Landis and Dunlap are co-teachers in Sewell’s first-grade inclusion program, which serves students who have various learning needs and abilities.
Describing Dunlap as a best friend and stating the rest of the Sewell “family” is a close-knit group that “have been with me during the most momentous and stressful points of my life,” Landis approaches her classroom with the idea that character and relationship building are monumental aspects in quality education.
“I want my students to be kind, and to always choose love in everything they do,” she said.
As previously reported, Mantua School District received the award of “District of Character” by Character.org. Landis’ teaching style naturally fits in with the district’s efforts to educate students about the importance of character. Landis is also part of the Character Council Team.
“I want my students to know their character is what means the most in life … I want them to do the right thing even when it’s not the most popular,” she said.
“The major ways I would most want to influence my students’ lives would be to help them believe in themselves, to understand that failing is just the first attempt in learning. They learn the most from their failures. Sometimes failures make us stronger. I try to use examples in my life to help them better understand this concept.”
When it comes to fundamental classroom teaching, Landis said one lesson in particular she looks forward to during the year is the zoo unit.
“The month of May, we devote a lot of time to learning about the zoo and all different types of animals. The students pick their favorite animal to research. They then write a research paper based on this animal. They get so excited to explore books and use their Chromebooks to find facts on their animal. It really is magical to watch,” she said.
However, just like every job, teaching comes with its difficulties.
“The most difficult aspect of teaching is balancing [the students’] personal and emotional needs and their academics. In first grade, our students have a full day of school. There are many academic areas we cover during the course of the day: foundations, shared reading, guided reading, daily 5 rotations, math, daily math writing, social studies, science and character education lessons. The social and emotional needs always take precedence over everything. We always make sure to do check-ins with the students throughout the day. We can’t expect our students to complete their academic lessons if they are upset about something. It is really important for us to take the time and just sit and talk with our students. Sometimes it is something simple like they just need a hug if they miss their parents,” Landis said.
When her students are zoned in and showing signs of success, Landis feels her happiest.
“There is so much academic and emotional growth that occurs in first grade,” she said. “Some of our students are learning how to read by themselves for the very first time. I love to sit and watch them read aloud and see how proud they are to achieve this goal. The students start the year writing simple sentences and end the year writing their own stories.”
As the daughter of parents with a combined 60-plus years of teaching experience, Landis said, “Teaching is something I feel has been ingrained in my heart and soul ever since I was young … Ever since I was about 5 years old, I would play school at home.”
Now, after earning her BA in elementary education and psychology from Rowan University, having taught at neighboring J. Mason Tomlin for four years, and even marrying Jeremy, a Woodbury Middle School teacher, Landis is in her eighth year teaching at Sewell School and has no plans to do anything different.
