I’m Publishing a Book!!!

I have been an elementary teacher for almost 20 years. I love teaching! I have lived in the community where I worked for the past several…well many actually years. I love being a part of my students lives…learning about who they are, what they love, getting to know their families, seeing them at sporting events, etc. I love making a difference in the lives of the students that I teach!

Almost 2 years ago we relocated from Ohio to Michigan. This meant that I was going to step away from the classroom for a short time to help acclimate my family to our new area. This was so much harder than I thought. I hadn’t realized that although wife & mom were roles that I loved and enjoyed, teacher was a role that defined me.

Don’t get me wrong…wife and mom are roles that also define me, but I’ve been Mrs. Mengeu for a much longer time than I’ve been wife or mom. I didn’t realize that my brain is constantly thinking about education, teaching kids, making a difference. My wheels were always turning…and still are.

School Comparisons

The Ohio school district that I taught in was rated excellent and prided themselves on being GREAT! Toward the end of my time there, the district built new buildings which brought in new technology and a drive to be more progressive with our teaching methods. As we added new initiatives, we have to let go of some of the old ways. However, decisions like removing classroom libraries for digital books and putting handwriting on the backburner because google slides were now important for kindergarteners didn’t quite sit right with me. As a primary grade teacher, whole child development was the priority in my mind. Not cool thing that will make everyone Ooh and aah.

Moving to Michigan gave me an opportunity to be part of a school district that was very different, but also rated excellent. This district had neighborhood schools that welcomed volunteers in the building. Smaller class sizes, making it easier for the teacher’s to keep their eye on the ball, so to speak. This district still had 1-to-1 technology, but also kept the developmentally appropriate practices on the forefront. As I volunteered in my own children’s classrooms and started to substitute teach from time to time, I was able to see the academic growth happen in whole different way. As I went through my kids folders each night, I was happy to see they still were doing some of what our old district tossed out. However, I also had amazing strategies and lessons up my sleeve from my experiences in Ohio that I wished some of these teachers had known about. I wished I could combine a little of what both schools were doing.

What kept me up at night…

My thoughts and comparisons kept me up at night. I saw so many good things happening at our new school but had so many amazing ideas that I’ve used in the past from my time teaching in Ohio. I started to write down my thoughts that were keeping me up at night. Thoughts about what would really make a great elementary school. Thoughts about how we can provide kids with what they really need to succeed. I seriously would get at dawn and go down to my computer and notebook and start writing things down.

Yes…academics are important! But…what about the tools they need to be mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared for the progressive academic world they will face in middle school, high school, and college? Why aren’t we taking the time in the early years to give our students these tools?

Tools students need for Overall Achievement

What are these tools that I’m talking about? I’m glad you asked…lol!

These tools are imbedded in the development of mental, emotional, and physical health!

Developmental Growth will Support Overall Achievement!

My Research

I started with webs…just like we teach our students when they are writing. I brainstormed everything that I’ve learned from teaching inclusion, working with our building specialists (SLP, intervention specialists, OT, PT, Guidance Counselor, Reading Tutors, etc), I went back to some of the books I’ve read throughout my career, watched Ted Talks, read educational journals, and I just couldn’t stop.

My husband would find me out on my back porch on my computer every morning and he’d ask, “What are you researching now?”

I researched the “what is”, “why is it important?”, and “how to teach it” for each area of Developmental Growth. This whole process took me about 1 year. Then I wrote it all down.

AND. IT’S. DONE!!!!

I have a completed manuscript! It’s finished being edited. Now we are on to design! I’m so excited!

Why? Why did I do all of this?

I didn’t set out to write a book. I didn’t plan on this really…I just couldn’t stop the wheels in my brain from working. I miss being in the classroom. I miss making a difference. I miss planning innovative hands on learning. I miss seeing kids make progress.

I have come to realize that above all things we do as teachers…it means nothing if the students we teach are not mentally and emotionally healthy. In my book I write about several students from my past teaching experiences that did not have the tools for developmental growth and it had a major effect on how they learned and how they felt about learning. In some stories it even comes down to how they survive amidst the pressures that life provides. I see the anxiety in my own children (one in particular) and I want him to be mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy enough to strive to his highest ability!

I WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN EDUCATION.

If we can make a difference in education it will make all the difference in the individuals that we teach. I believe that slowing down and placing our focus on developmental growth in the early elementary years will put our students ahead overall. I mean…let’s be honest…is our ultimate goal to teach academic standards or is it to teach kids how to achieve overall?

This is what my book is about:

Slowing Down to focus on Developmental Growth in order to support Overall Achievement.

It provides teachers and administrators with practical moves they can make both big and small in order to support developmental growth.

The manuscript is done, the title is still undecided, although I do have a couple ideas, I just haven’t settled on one. I have several book cover designs that I’m in the process of working with. The book should be ready for press before we know it!

Stay tuned…

Enjoy Being Their Difference,