In my spare time my family loves to read and spend time together.  I am a member of a small reading group and love to read just about anything.  My favorite book growing up was “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith.  I also read a few newspapers everyday (usually online) a little habit I picked up from my Dad and from working at Madison Newspapers for 14 years before I decided to fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a teacher. The Campshure family spends a lot of time at “Uncle Bob’s farm” which we call “fun land” but it is actually a beautiful, peaceful place with horses, four-wheelers, a swimming pool and hot tub.  We also enjoy camping and we make good use out of our state park sticker each year.  I love to shop and cross stitch but mostly I spend my time enjoying my little boy and watching him grow which is going much too fast for my liking!

Anyway, I am hoping you know a bit more about me and if I am your child’s teacher I will do my best to help your child have a great 2nd grade year.  I love to laugh and that is usually quite evident to the children early on in the year.  I also enjoy working closely with Mr. Bomann and we both work very hard to vary our curriculum delivery so that the children are both engaged and excited about what they are doing.  This is a picture which was taken of me in the 2nd grade (thanks Mom!)  I have my mouth closed because the photographer asked me to so I would quit talking (family trait which is replicating itself in my son.)  Below I have listed some of the reasons I love teaching 2nd grade and I hope you have enjoyed reading my biography.

Mrs. Campshure’s Top Ten Reasons I Love Teaching 2nd Grade

10. Reading Charlotte’s Web – every year someone cries (usually me!)

9. Teaching the kids the story of Francis Scott Key and The Star Spangled Banner – inspiring and most kids don’t know the origins of the song!

8. Teaching the Digestive System to the children – in what other job do you get to say “pee” and “poop” and get a laugh for it every time!

7. Teaching about Dolley Madison’s courage – yes kids she is a real person NOT just a donut maker!

6. Reading Little House on the Prairie to the kids during the westward expansion unit – every year Mr. Bomann and I vow to only read a few of the best chapters and every year we end up reading the whole thing!

5. Teaching about the Civil War.  What a rich time period of our nations history and it is always fun to invite the Civil War soldier from Oshkosh Museum in to show the children artifacts from that period of time.

4. Teaching with Mr. Bomann.  Yes it’s true he and I have very similar teaching styles and we work well together.  Yes it’s true we both like coffee and making people laugh.  Yes it’s true that teaching 2nd grade is more fun since he has been the other 2nd grade teacher.  No it’s not true that we are married (some child once told their mom that she thought we were.)  Yes it’s true that he is going to probably be mad at me because he is only as high as #4 on this list.

3. Teaching about the Greek Gods.  The 2nd graders are always fascinated by these myths and learn the differences between the major gods and goddesses.  Many of these 2nd graders have gone on into the Mythology Club and have done very well on the national test of mythology (thanks Mrs. Chen!)

2. Teaching about Women’s and Civil Rights.  This is probably my favorite unit of the year.  The children always connect so much to each and every person’s story and always produce very thoughtful writings and projects during this unit.  It is a privilege to hold these hero’s stories in my hand and give them to the children, sometimes it is the first time they have heard them.

1. The kids of course!  2nd graders are so enthusiastic and willing to learn.  They change so much from the beginning of the year until the end – mentally as well as physically.  I always laugh at the end of the year when I look at their school pictures because they look so different.  AND I love it that they still lose teeth and it’s usually still such a big deal to them!  They are wonderful and make it so fun for me!