Michelle Beleyme

Elementary Teacher

ABOUT ME

Hello! My name is Michelle. I grew up and went through the school system in Banff many, many years ago ... after which I attended the U of Calgary, earning a BA in History. During these years and some years following uni, I worked locally at places like Summer Fun (Town of Banff), the Banff Quickie Ski Club, the Banff Public Library, Banff Camera, and Nature Works/Wild Elements (to name a few).

In 2002 I took a leap of faith and went to live and work in South Korea, where I taught ESL/EFL for eight years, including three years at a private Elementary School. Deciding I loved teaching, I enrolled in the U of Strathclyde's Primary Teaching Program in Glasgow, UK. Following graduation there, I moved to Shanghai, China where I taught in three different schools (Lower Elementary) over seven years. Each school's programs used rich elements from a variety of international curricula. On top of the many, varied cultural experiences, I learned a lot about teaching and learning for literacy and numeracy, as well as science and social science.

After my many years in Shanghai, I decided to make a move to Singapore where I taught at the Canadian International School. It's an enormous school with classes ranging from JK through to Grade 12. The school is an IB (inquiry-based learning) certified school. I happily taught Grade Two for two years.

Teaching and living in the three quite different Asian countries and cultures has provided me with a unique perspective on the ways students in Asia learn. Like here in Canada, they are largely influenced by family, although in Asia extended family and helpers/nannies are also often major players in family life. The many different adults in students' lives impact how they relate to each other and the world around them and this, in turn, impacts how a teacher is able to relate to and teach them.

I returned to Canada last year and am excited to now be on the substitute teaching list in the Bow Valley with CRPS! I am eager to make further connections with people who are also passionate about working in schools and with children. Please feel free to reach out via my email address below if you are ever in need of a sub!

michelle.beleyme@crps.ca

Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/mbeleyme

The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery
~ Mark van Doren ~

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Care, respect, trust and integrity

These are four words that represent what I aspire to demonstrate in the classroom on a daily basis. My hope is that by modeling and teaching these attributes, students will learn the importance of these values and learn to apply them to the way they treat each other, those they encounter in the hallway, at home, in the wider community, as well as how they interact with and treat the environment. It is important to me that students have positive experiences at school and ones that create a life-long love of learning.

Over the 17 years of teaching and living abroad I have gained a unique perspective on the world which has allowed me to grow as a teacher. The majority of my life has been dedicated to caring for, teaching, coaching, and leading, and actively engaging with children. The many teaching experiences and travels I have had opened my eyes to what is out there. Each has given me a different perspective on life and learning in different countries and cultures; all of which flavour what I bring into the classroom. I encourage and challenge kids to be risk-takers, to try new things, to make mistakes, to value differences, to be open and adaptable to new experiences, to persevere, and to be respectful, and in doing so I try to do the same for myself.

SKILLS

IBPYP

3 years of inquiry-based PYP training and experience; course completion - Making the PYP Happen

TECH

Apple and PC platforms; Google Suite; Managebac; PowerSchool; iPad apps for learning (Book Creator & Seesaw being two of my favourites)

COLLABORATION

Active and responsible in department and team cohort communication, collaboration, and planning

PLANNING

Creative in designing and producing engaging and tailored lesson plans and supplemental materials

ELL

Extensive experience in ESL/ELL

ADAPTIVE

Strong, 'roll-with-the punches', can-do attitude

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

Being a sub can be tricky in this regards, but I'm able to learn names and faces quite quickly which helps greatly to forge those all-important connections.