FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — Teacher Feature is sponsored by Baker & Disalvo Personal Injury Law.
School got back in session last week, but we’re still continuing to highlight teachers who went above and beyond spring semester.
CBS12 News’ next “Teacher Feature” within St. Lucie Public Schools is a 3rd grade ELA teacher at Lakewood Park Elementary School in Fort Pierce.
Sandra Tucker, a teacher of 10 years, is known for teaching her youngins independence, responsibility, and utilizing real life situations to allow them to connect academically.
“There’s a lot, because they come from second grade, first grade, which is kind of like the baby stage, where they have, like, the ones and two’s, and then they come here, where they have to test and they have to pass exams in order to move up to the fourth grade,” said Tucker. “What I love is to just allow them to thrive, allow them when they first come, I don’t expect that they know it all. So what I love is the fact that we just continue to talk about our targets.”
3rd graders are at that age where they’re really starting to understand how school and lie works, that’s why Tucker says there’s many lessons to be taught both in the classroom and outside of it.
“Responsibility. This is an independent grade. I don’t tie their shoes. They have open bathroom where they, you know, go in and out. They don’t have to, you know, wait for someone to tell them to do so. I am very consistent. I show them consistency, that as long as they are consistent with the things that they do, that life is maybe easier at times,” said Tucker. “And, I also use a lot of the learning experiences outside of our classroom, especially if we’re learning about certain things, then I would utilize outside or real life situations to allow them to make that connection academically.”
Tucker also makes sure her students know that when they make mistakes, it’s important to take the time to correct them.
“If you don’t make a mistake, you will never learn, and we’re not perfect. So, this is the grade where I say it’s okay to make mistakes and what I tell them is. It’s a growth mindset. So, I have a chart up there. Change your fixed mindset to a growth mindset where it’s not I made a mistake, but it’s more like, how can I make this better? How do I keep practicing to be better in what I’m struggling with?” said Tucker. “I also target those weaknesses. So when we do certain assignments, if they don’t pass it with expectations, then that’s when they come into our small group and they spend time with Mrs. Tucker at the small group table, and we really hit at that information that they need to retrieve.”
Tucker says her natural teaching style is what got her this honor from the school district.
“I was not aware that this was my gift, but when I came in, it just became very natural. I’m just loving on them and knowing that they have to be with me six hours a day. I’m sorry I’m getting emotional,” said Tucker.
Tucker says talking about her students makes her emotional because of how much love she has for them.
“I just love them. I love that they get to grow with me and they get to learn with me as well. So I am like their parent outside of parenting,” said Tucker.
Tucker says knows her students aren’t going to know everything. She says she loves teaching things over and over again and with a lot of practice, patience, and mistakes, she knows they’ll leave her class nailing it.