Wendy Demartini
Kindergarten Teacher
From a young age, Mrs. Demartini never saw herself as anything else besides a teacher. She loves to connect with each of her students to learn exactly what will provide the most growth socially, emotionally, and academically.
From a young age, Mrs. Demartini never saw herself as anything else besides a teacher. She loves to connect with each of her students to learn exactly what will provide the most growth socially, emotionally, and academically.
Kindergarten Teacher
From a young age, Mrs. Demartini never saw herself as anything else besides a teacher. She loves to connect with each of her students to learn exactly what will provide the most growth socially, emotionally, and academically.
Impacting Students
For a series of lessons based on the tale, The Gingerbread Man, we read several versions of the story. The children compare and contrast to create Venn diagrams about the characters and storyline. Then, I introduce the idea of writing their own version. I ask, "Who will the characters be in your story? Will it be a gingerbread boy, man, girl? Will the gingerbread person get eaten?" We talk about possibilities. With their fourth-grade buddies, they decorate a brown shopping bag as a gingerbread house. Using either the character designs I have created or their own designs (which I much prefer), they cut them out, color them, put them on popsicle sticks, and place them in their story bag. Several times before the story bags are sent home, they practice telling their version of the tale and use their characters as they proceed. The bag is sent home with the idea that they have the gift of a story to give during the Winter Break.
Lifelong Learner
No question, the Diversity Cohort has had the most impact on my teaching practice. That experience gave me a new lens that affects me during each and every day, each and every piece of literature I choose, each and every conversation I have with my students. I am so appreciative that I was given that opportunity and still have that opportunity in Cohort 2! I am also attending a two-day literacy conference in February.
Life Goal
Be a volunteer teacher somewhere in the United States and then somewhere in the world.
Fun Fact
I walked a marathon in Anchorage, Alaska, with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Team in Training. It took 7 hours, 6 minutes, and 5 seconds. My husband and I raised $9,000 for cancer research. Fifteen years later, my husband got lymphoma. That research saved his life.
Joined Graland in...
2012
Also Known As ...
Social Studies PLC Member, Diversity Cohort 1 and 2 Member, Admission Spokesperson, SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity)
Other than Graland, I Support
Cancer research, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and any Go Fund Me or cause that is supported by those I know.
Hometown
Binghamton, New York
Education
MA from Skidmore College, Long island University Doctoral studies at Fordham University
Back
From a young age, Mrs. Demartini never saw herself as anything else besides a teacher. She loves to connect with each of her students to learn exactly what will provide the most growth socially, emotionally, and academically.
Impacting Students
For a series of lessons based on the tale, The Gingerbread Man, we read several versions of the story. The children compare and contrast to create Venn diagrams about the characters and storyline. Then, I introduce the idea of writing their own version. I ask, "Who will the characters be in your story? Will it be a gingerbread boy, man, girl? Will the gingerbread person get eaten?" We talk about possibilities. With their fourth-grade buddies, they decorate a brown shopping bag as a gingerbread house. Using either the character designs I have created or their own designs (which I much prefer), they cut them out, color them, put them on popsicle sticks, and place them in their story bag. Several times before the story bags are sent home, they practice telling their version of the tale and use their characters as they proceed. The bag is sent home with the idea that they have the gift of a story to give during the Winter Break.
Lifelong Learner
No question, the Diversity Cohort has had the most impact on my teaching practice. That experience gave me a new lens that affects me during each and every day, each and every piece of literature I choose, each and every conversation I have with my students. I am so appreciative that I was given that opportunity and still have that opportunity in Cohort 2! I am also attending a two-day literacy conference in February.
Life Goal
Be a volunteer teacher somewhere in the United States and then somewhere in the world.
Fun Fact
I walked a marathon in Anchorage, Alaska, with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Team in Training. It took 7 hours, 6 minutes, and 5 seconds. My husband and I raised $9,000 for cancer research. Fifteen years later, my husband got lymphoma. That research saved his life.
Joined Graland in...
2012
Also Known As ...
Social Studies PLC Member, Diversity Cohort 1 and 2 Member, Admission Spokesperson, SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity)
Other than Graland, I Support
Cancer research, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and any Go Fund Me or cause that is supported by those I know.
Hometown
Binghamton, New York
Education
MA from Skidmore College, Long island University Doctoral studies at Fordham University
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
