Liza Baker
Kindergarten Teacher
In the kindergarten classroom, Mrs. Baker excels at teaching early literacy skills, inclusivity and character. She loves when some little nugget that she shared with a student resurfaces at the just the right moment.
In the kindergarten classroom, Mrs. Baker excels at teaching early literacy skills, inclusivity and character. She loves when some little nugget that she shared with a student resurfaces at the just the right moment.
In the kindergarten classroom, Mrs. Baker excels at teaching early literacy skills, inclusivity and character. She loves when some little nugget that she shared with a student resurfaces at the just the right moment.
Impacting Students
My favorite thing to teach is within the realm of inclusivity. One lesson in particular was with the book Red, a Crayon’s Story. We read this book and talked about how our wrappers give some clues as to who we are, but that our inside colors don't always match. We then did a Venn Diagram activity using hula hoops where we took apart identity: things I like to do and wear, and general stereotypes. We realized that identity doesn't have to be one or the other when it comes to gender, but that we can "just like what we like."
Lifelong Learner
Being on the Diversity & Equity Cohort truly impacted me as teacher. It forced me to do a deep dive into myself as well as how I teach and what opportunities I give to my students to have windows and mirrors.
Favorite Teaching Moment
Any moment when a kid who is really struggling -- the one I think about in the middle of the night, the one that I talk about incessantly trying to figure out -- looks at me with wide eyes and says, "Oh my gosh! Mrs. Baker did you hear me? I just read that!" That's the moment.
Fun Fact
I grew up in a one stop-light farming community in middle-of-nowhere Ohio, where going to college was extremely rare, and I'm a first generation college graduate. Thank goodness for good teachers, enough funds and a supportive family.
Favorite Childhood Memory
Refusing to read the word "but" in first grade because I thought it was a bad word.
Life Goals
Travel through Italy
Other than Graland, I Support
Children's Hospital, Alzheimer's Association, Food Bank of Colorado
Joined Graland in...
2012
Also Known As ...
Admissions Committee Member, Literacy PLC Member, Diversity and Equity Cohort Member, Literacy Division Member, Mentor, Graland Parent
Hometown
Mantua, Ohio
Education
BA in sociology from Hiram College
MA in education from Oglethorpe University
Back
Impacting Students
My favorite thing to teach is within the realm of inclusivity. One lesson in particular was with the book Red, a Crayon’s Story. We read this book and talked about how our wrappers give some clues as to who we are, but that our inside colors don't always match. We then did a Venn Diagram activity using hula hoops where we took apart identity: things I like to do and wear, and general stereotypes. We realized that identity doesn't have to be one or the other when it comes to gender, but that we can "just like what we like."
Lifelong Learner
Being on the Diversity & Equity Cohort truly impacted me as teacher. It forced me to do a deep dive into myself as well as how I teach and what opportunities I give to my students to have windows and mirrors.
Favorite Teaching Moment
Any moment when a kid who is really struggling -- the one I think about in the middle of the night, the one that I talk about incessantly trying to figure out -- looks at me with wide eyes and says, "Oh my gosh! Mrs. Baker did you hear me? I just read that!" That's the moment.
Fun Fact
I grew up in a one stop-light farming community in middle-of-nowhere Ohio, where going to college was extremely rare, and I'm a first generation college graduate. Thank goodness for good teachers, enough funds and a supportive family.
Favorite Childhood Memory
Refusing to read the word "but" in first grade because I thought it was a bad word.
Life Goals
Travel through Italy
Other than Graland, I Support
Children's Hospital, Alzheimer's Association, Food Bank of Colorado
Joined Graland in...
2012
Also Known As ...
Admissions Committee Member, Literacy PLC Member, Diversity and Equity Cohort Member, Literacy Division Member, Mentor, Graland Parent
Hometown
Mantua, Ohio
Education
BA in sociology from Hiram College
MA in education from Oglethorpe 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.
