IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU. :)

Hi there! My name is Mrs. Howard and I am happy to be the 8th grade reading and English teacher at UGES. This school year is my 12th at Union Grove! It seems like yesterday that I was just starting. Time flies when you are having fun! :)

I grew up north of Milwaukee in the Holy Hill area and attended Hartford Union High School. I have a Bachelor's Degree in middle childhood - early adolescent education (grades 1-9) from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. I also have a Master's Degree in professional development which I received from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse as well. In my free time, I love to read, do anything outdoors, and to spend time with my family and my yellow lab, Benna. We are avid sports fans, so we also try to work in as many Packer and Brewer games as possible. :) My husband and I have a six-year-old son named Brekken, and a three-year-old little girl, Ensley. Watching them learn new tricks each day has been more fun than I could have ever expected!  They keep us on our toes and help us remember the importance of slowing down to enjoy the "little" things in life. I like to think that being a teacher makes me a better mom, and I hope that being a mom makes me a better teacher as well.

As a teacher, I am a firm believer in project-based and group-based learning. Therefore, students in my classroom spend a great deal of time out of their seats and interacting with one another. They learn through hands-on application and present their new knowledge through the creation of self-defining projects and assignments.

I know that eighth-grade year is a critical one in terms of students' development and I take that responsibility very seriously. Students will be expected to become independent thinkers who take responsibility for their own learning. I challenge them to make their own decisions and stand by their own opinions. I work very hard to bridge the gap between middle school and high school, and to make sure students are ready and able to make that important transition.

If you have questions or concerns as the year progresses, please do not hesitate to let me know!