Teachers are the Difference: Karen Lawrence
Doherty pre-kindergarten teacher Karen Lawrence is a master of weaving academics into exploratory activities for young learners to discover. With an ever-evolving curriculum to meet and challenge students’ skills, Lawrence brings out the best in her students every year.
“When students change, I change so we can grow together. It’s how I am able to help them grow their skills in the most dynamic way,” Lawrence said.
One of Lawrence’s favorite activities with her students is the year-long leaf study. Throughout the year, students collect and research trees, tree bark, and flowers.
“Students love to bring back collections and share them with their classmates, and everyone learns something new. It’s wonderful to see that, because of this lesson, students develop a deeper appreciation for nature and the importance of a lifecycle. They also learn the basics of how to research, and how to delve further into a topic,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence’s students learn more than academic lessons, they also learn how to build a thriving community with each other.
“In my class, and as they learn how to build friendships with one another, I strive to emphasize the power of kindness, and how it can change someone’s day. We also often discuss how to be an active learner, since the students are the key participant in their own learning process,” Lawrence said.
Every morning, Lawrence gathers the students to participate in a musical moment. Students have the option of requesting a particular song, if they provide sheet music for Lawrence to read.
Soon, the room is filled with the swell of Lawrence’s piano playing, the enthusiastic singing of students excited for the day’s new academic adventure, and of course, the occasional outburst of giggles.
“If my students are willing to try new and difficult things, and not only learn from their mistakes but are willing to make new ones, then they’ve achieved something wonderful,” Lawrence said.