TEACHER'S CORNER: BURKE TEACHES AT MAY GREENE

Theresa Burke's students get into reading in a big way.

They make big books.

"I feel that making poster board size books is an excellent way to enrich children's language abilities and reading habits," Burke said.

"It also exposes them to the making of a real book. They write and illustrate these books and are motivated to read them. One of my goals in reading is to promote reading for enjoyment.

"By the end of the school year, the students feel they are authors and illustrators themselves."

Burke teaches first grade at May Greene Elementary School where she has taught for three years.

She received a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Southeast Missouri State University where she is currently in the masters program.

Burke gets to see her students make significant progress.

"Seeing the academic gains the children make from the beginning of the year to the end of the year is gratifying," she said.

"Sometimes it is easy to forget how little they know at the opening of school compared to what they know at the close of school in June."

In her spare time, Burke enjoys biking, walking outdoors and weight training.