Meet Walking Classroom Ambassador Susan Camarena. Mrs. Camarena has used The Walking Classroom for about a year with fourth grade students at Hueneme Elementary in California. She used The Walking Classroom only until March last year and only begin in April this year. Both years were partial due to not having students in the classroom (online teaching only). Mrs. Camarena has been working in education for 26 years!
What are your memories of yourself when you were the age of your students?
I remember loving writing. In fact, I wrote many stories and turned them into a book. I also loved swimming and riding my bike with my friends all over my neighborhood.
What led you to become an educator?
As the youngest child in my family, I grew up wanting to teach and lead all the children in the neighborhood. I played school often and loved being the teacher. When I got older, every career I considered involved children, so teaching was a natural choice.
Share your educational philosophy in one to three sentences.
I believe that to be a good teacher, you must love teaching. It’s not always easy, but there is always a reason — or a class full of 30 reasons — to keep doing your best to teach the children of the future.
What is your favorite content area/topic to teach? Why?
That’s a hard one. I do love teaching California history, but I also love teaching NGSS and writing.
How have you incorporated The Walking Classroom into your teaching?
I used the language arts in our writing and discussed health related to the Walking Classroom curriculum, and look forward to incorporating the program even more next year.
How has The Walking Classroom made a difference in your classroom?
We are moving more, so more awake and attentive in class. Thanks to The Walking Classroom, we also have more examples of learning to refer to than just the teacher’s knowledge.
What is your favorite podcast or Walking Classroom memory, and why?
So far, my favorite is the Idioms podcast. The examples made us laugh.
What is your best teaching memory?
Field trips are my best memories, especially our annual Santa Cruz Island trip.
What advice would you give to a new teacher?
Laugh with the students. Don’t give up; fix it if you make a mistake. Most importantly, don’t stress over mistakes; just do better next time.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to spend time with family, go to the beach, hike, and read.
Name something you’d like to cross off your bucket list.
I have always wanted to go on the journey of El Camino De Santiago and visit all seven continents!
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