TEACHER'S CORNER: LIFE EXPERIENCES HELP IN TEACHER'S PROFESSIONAL ROLE

Fourth-grade teacher Dorothy Meyr has had plenty of life experiences before and after her marriage to help her in her profession.

The 15-year teaching veteran works at Trinity Lutheran School, where besides teaching a classroom, she also serves as the school's music director.

Meyr said she got the confidence to teach children from her experiences as a baby sitter, summer camp leader and Bible school and Sunday School teacher. Being in the band and singing solos before crowds also prepared her to lead young lives.

But probably the best experience that has spurred her professional development has been motherhood. Meyr and her husband, Delvin, who also teaches at Trinity Lutheran, are the parents of five children: Darrin, Daniel, Deann, Dwight and David.

"Being a parent of five children truly helped me to understand and love all children," she said. "Along with my other experiences, it gave me the confidence to become a teacher and face many different kinds of people and children. It also helped me to relate to them and gave me many opportunities to become involved in leadership roles."

Meyr said she tries to provide as many hands-on experiences as possible for her students. Fourth-graders are inquisitive and need props, she said, which is why she uses tree branches to explain the branches of government, and colonial-style clothes to study that era in history.

"As I look into the eyes of my students, I really don't want to disappoint them in their expectations of school," she said. "Fourth grade is the age of enthusiasm, energy, eagerness and empathy. Wonderful questions are asked, and most children are very eager to share opinions and partake in class discussions."

Meyr said working in a religious environment helps her to share with students in another way, as well. Teachers affect the students' lives on a daily basis, she said, and they can share religious as well as academic experiences.

"This classroom is truly a mission field in which I can share my faith in Jesus and they certainly share their own strong faith with me," she said.