Michele Dickinson, 1st Grade Teacher

Hi, I am Michele Dickinson and I teach first grade at TMCS. In first grade I found "home". I love everything about it. I am a teacher who has always tried to create a wonderful world in one small room. I spend time and thought in setting up the classroom environment in which my students and I will work together. As the year goes by, the walls of our classroom become filled with displays of our work. This work reflects the "magic" that is happening in our room. I encourage my pupils to see themselves as readers, writers and problem solvers. It is important to me that my children enjoy coming to school each day. I also want them to leave excited about what we will be doing the next day. I treat each child with respect and have high expectations for our year together. Our classroom becomes a community where the children are valued, connected to each other through shared experiences and able to grow in a positive learning atmosphere. By building a classroom community that physically and emotionally supports these beliefs, I have children that support me, care about each other and work together beautifully.

Being a part of The Mountain Community School is an exhilarating experience. The atmosphere of the school is so gentle and positive. There is an underlying belief and trust in each child's ability to learn when given choice, time and encouragement. I believe we have to teach with our heads … and our hearts. The Mountain Community School reflects this belief through its dedication to contributing to the quality of life of children and to making learning a joyful experience.

This will be my 30th year teaching. I earned a Bachelor's Degree at Virginia Tech and a Masters from Clemson University. I feel so fortunate to have a career I love!