WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE A... (SECOND OF 10 PARTS)

Diane LeGrand watched one of her students, Kaylen Knepp, spell a word on the blackboard.

Dennis Thomas worked on a spelling lesson as Diane LeGrand checked his progress.

Visual aides help students learn about weather in Diane LeGrand's classroom.

Being a teacher is an ongoing learning process.

Diane LeGrand, a first grade teacher at Clippard Elementary School, takes graduate courses almost every year, even though she's already certified to teach.

"You have to keep up on what's new and try to stay fresh," said LeGrand, who has taught for 24 years. "It is a hard job, because really there is no down time. You have to be prepared everyday and you have to be consistent."

LeGrand can't remember not wanting to be a teacher. As a child she often played school, and has never regretted her career decision.

"It's fun to watch them love the learning," she said of the first-, third-, fifth- and sixth-graders she has taught over the years. "It's a difficult job, but I can't imagine doing anything else."

Students need constant encouragement to enjoy school, said LeGrand, especially at the elementary level. Good communication between parents and teachers is important, but teachers also must be willing to be substitute parents when necessary, she said.

"I think if a child doesn't like school, then it's the adults' responsibility to find out why," said LeGrand. "Usually if a child feels successful at school, they always like school."

LeGrand agrees with first-grader Allison Wolz that stickers and stamps are important tools for teachers. However, there are many other supplies that a teacher needs to be effective.

For example, teachers need books, chalk, a chalkboard, crayons, markers, glue and "lots and lots of paper clips," she said. Beyond the obvious school supplies, there are some other do's and dont's aspiring teachers need to know.

Said LeGrand: "Elementary school teachers also have to have Kleenex and paper towels, because we have lots of runny noses and sneezes and spills to clean up. You don't need a lot of dressy clothes, because there are lots of hand prints.

"You could do it all with books and pencils and paper," she said. "There are lots of wonderful things in the world to keep their attention, but when it gets down to it, you still just need the basics."