Tara L. Price

Personal Data
Born:  October 13, 1980
Address and Phone: 3379 Chadbury Drive
           Concord, NC 28608
           (704) 784-2372
            tlpsmiles@yahoo.com

Education
BS, Elementary Education, Appalachian State University, May 2002

Certificates Held
Major Area: Elementary Education, K-6
Concentration: Psychology

Experience
Student Teaching, Weddington Elementary School, Concord, NC, Spring 2002.  Cooperating teacher: Mrs. Brenda Ballard.  During this experience, I observed, assisted, and taught students at the fifth grade level.  In order to accommodate for the different instructional and reading levels in this grade, I introduced, and implemented, a new reading program entitled Literature Circles.  I used Investigations as my math program.  This is a hands-on technique, which allows students to work with manipulatives, and it allows the students work with particular skills at a much closer level.  I also made use of the IRI, WRI, and ERSI assessment instruments to determine the instructional level of my students.

Internship, Mabel Elementary School, Zionville, NC, Fall 2001.
Cooperating teacher: Mr. Russell Hiatt.  During this experience, I worked with fourth grade students.  This opportunity greatly prepared me for my student teaching as well as teaching on my own.  Mr. Hiatt was very giving in his class time by allowing me to practice and implement new strategies I had recently learned in block.  He familiarized me with the Pegasus reading program and I introduced him to the reading program Literature Circles.  We also worked very closely with the mathematical program, Investigations, as well as Excel.  By working with a variety of programs, I feel better prepared to choose the program I feel best suites the needs of my teaching style and most importantly, my students.

Tutoring for CI 2800, Hardin Park Elementary After School Program, Fall 1999.
During this experience, I worked in the after-school program with a first grader.  I acted as a tutor, as well as a mentor, to this underprivileged student.  Through this internship I gained a greater understanding for the different backgrounds children come from, as well as the different learning styles these children need to be exposed to, in order to succeed.

Teaching Fellows Scholarship, Fall 1998- Spring 2002.  Through this scholarship I have gained an innumerable amount of experiences.  Examples are:
Camp Friendship, Volunteer Camp Counselor, Summer 2000.  This camp is for children with cancer or children recovering from cancer.  This opportunity allowed me to see the cornucopia of students we will deal with as teachers and how all have different circumstances from which they come.
Teaching Fellows also allowed for many other tutoring experiences, educational trips (such as Discovery and Junior/Senior Conference), a Spring Break Internship in Stanley County, and countless seminars throughout my semesters at Appalachian State University.

Assistant Teacher and Site Specialist, Cabarrus County Kids Plus, Concord, NC, Spring 1997-present.  This experience was and is one of the most beneficial of my career.  Working with children is what initially made my decision to become a teacher.  Through tutoring and learning discipline techniques, I feel I have come to know the many age groups there are in Elementary School and become more familiar with the developmental needs of each of these groups.

Activities and Interests
Teaching Fellows Scholarship
Sigma Kappa Sorority

Honors
Teaching Fellows Scholarship
Deans List

Instructional Technology Skills
Technology Portfolio @ www.appstate.ced.edu/~goodmanj.com

Career Objectives
Seeking K-6 position

References
Betty Dishman
Appalachian State University
preston@boone.net

Beth Frye
Appalachian State University
befrye@hotmail.com

Jeff Goodman
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Appalachian State University
goodmanj@appstate.edu

Dr. Pamela Schram
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Appalachian State University
scrampw@appstate.edu

Russell Hiatt
Fourth Grade Classroom Teacher
Mabel Elementary School
(828) 297-2512
 

Link to Cover Page