Staff writer
Spend an hour with Karen Nickel, and there’s no doubt she has a passion for teaching.
Following her around her kindergarten classroom at Centre Elementary School is like watching a butterfly flit from one flower to another.
Nickel is a bundle of energy, a trait that may be a necessity in someone who works with 5- and 6-year-olds seven hours a day, five days a week during the school year.
“This is great!” or “I love this!” she exclaims repeatedly as she explains the various tools she uses to teach students the basic concepts of reading, writing, and arithmetic, plus science and social skills.
Nickel is beginning her third year as a kindergarten teacher after one year teaching 4-year-olds.
After summer cleaning, the furniture in her classroom is re-arranged. Shelves have been moved, and a “reading rug” is in a new spot.
“I like to get in here early,” she says.
She visits her classroom at least once a week during summer. She takes old projects home to rework them and creates new ones.
Her husband, Kacey, who owns a construction business, also gets involved. He has built a variety of shelves for the classroom.
Nickel spends a lot of extra time and her own money on her classroom.
For example, each student receives a cowboy hat and bandanna upon entering the classroom in the fall and takes them home at the end of the school year.
Nickel also purchases T-shirts for her students to wear on special occasions, such as field trips and group presentations.
This summer, she went to a weeklong reading academy with other kindergarten and first grade teachers. She will begin using a new reading program when school opens Aug. 20.
A new unit will be introduced each week. Each unit incorporates reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. An online connection reinforces lessons.
This year for the first time, students will have access to laptop computers.
Most kindergarten teachers are expected to have their students reading by the end of the year.
“We are laying the foundation,” Nickel said.
She is a stickler for organization. She needs quick access to material. A well organized classroom also helps substitute teachers and aides.
Her classroom contains more than 1,200 books, many of them her own. Some of her favorites are by authors Robert Munsch, who wrote, “We Share Everything,” and Marc Brown, who wrote the Arthur series. Last summer, she took all the books home, sorted, categorized, and inventoried them.
Books readily available to students are grouped in baskets by theme. Each basket and the books in it are color-coded so students can return them to their rightful place.
A behavior board helps students learn how to monitor their behavior and consider the consequences of undesirable behavior. Nickel also uses Positive Alternative Thinking (or PATH) strategies to enforce appropriate behavior.
She rewards students for helpful actions by giving them “kindness coins.” After collecting five coins, a child can select a toy from a prize drawer.
Nickel provides a bulletin board where she and her students can post pictures of friends and relatives.
She has an assessment notebook in which she keeps track of each child’s progress. She also keeps a parent log to record all communications with parents, including telephone calls and notes.
She creates a weekly newsletter for parents, “A Nickel’s Worth,” with pictures and a summary of the week’s activities.
These are just a few of the ways Nickel organizes her classroom. Many other tools are used to stimulate her students and promote basic learning.
A new year
After two days of school, Nickel will call each child’s parent to discuss how the child is adjusting to a full day of school.
She will spend the first two weeks connecting with students and helping them connect with each other and the school. She wants students to feel they own their classroom. She wants them to be excited about and proud of it.
The first few months of school can be extremely busy, especially if she serves as assistant volleyball coach, as she did last school year.
“That is why I like to have it all together before the year starts,” she said.
She usually gets to school by 7 a.m. and spends an hour getting things ready. After school, she straightens the classroom, then heads for volleyball practice or games. She gets home to rural Ramona about 7 or 7:30 p.m.
Nickel worked with K-4 principal Jerri Kemble to develop a Paths, Academics, Wellness, and Skills (or PAWS) program. K-4 students meet twice a month at the end of the school day. After a brief presentation, students break into small groups to share what they have learned.
“This year we are focusing on going green,” Nickel said.
Nickel, a 32-year-old mother of three — Tori, 16; Kaitlynn, 10; and Tyler, 6 — has a long history of working with children.
A 1996 Marion High School graduate, she began providing child care in high school and was a para-educator for two years. After studying psychology at Butler County Community College, Marion, she obtained an associate of science degree.
She was involved for three years in the America Reads program sponsored by AmeriCorps. She assisted with reading programs at libraries and schools.
Nickel graduated from Tabor College in December 2002 with a degree in elementary education. She also earned an endorsement as a pre-school teacher and director.
She substitute-taught for three years before being hired as teacher for 4-year-old at-risk students at Centre Elementary.
Nickel expects to have at least 19 kindergarten students this fall. She is busy making lesson plans and preparing for the first couple of school days.
“I love this place,” she said. “The staff has a lot of passion. My husband graduated from Centre and has strong ties. I get great support from parents and community.”
Nickel and Brianna Methvin, the pre-K teacher, are planning a social time Aug. 18 with parents and students, two days before school starts.
Students can bring school supplies, meet teachers, and see their classrooms. The evening will conclude with a watermelon feed.
It’s just another example of the extra things teachers are doing in thousands of schools across the country to be sure their students have a pleasant first day of school.