What is Reading Recess?
The mission of Reading Recess is to create fun learning experiences for everyone, especially beginning readers from about ages four to six.
Every learner is different and has a different set of reading preferences and needs. That is wonderful proof of how we are all unique and special, but the problem is that lots of preferences and needs means lots of different types of teaching. Students get into schools where teachers are overwhelmed by their intense workload.
I mean, image being the manager of a team of 25 people and you have to navigate back to back meetings, except everyone is five, five and a half, five and three quarters, or six years old. Also three of them need to pee even though you just had a whole lunch break and one of them got lost in the hallway on the way back to their desk.
My top two goals for Reading Recess are​:
1. Be a platform that parents can trust to help children build a strong base of reading foundations.
2. Be a resource that teachers can turn to when they still need to present educational material but need some time to get teacher things done.
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Reading should be a joy, or at least something that is not downright dreadful. Let Reading Recess become a starting line, a way to start children off on a fair race toward literacy and achievement.
How can I keep supporting Reading Recess?
Find something on my Reading Recess Classroom Supplies list that you think would be particularly helpful. Or maybe something that you would be curious about knowing how to use. ​
Look around on my Teachers Pay Teachers storefront to see if anything piques your interest. You can also let me know if you have any ideas about things you want to see using the Feedback and Ideas form here:
Learn about the vision behind the Reading Recess Treasure Chest Fund and contribute an amount. You will get a little gift from me no matter the amount you pledge because I appreciate your support!
Why should I trust Miss Kelsi and Reading Recess?
Great question. It is always important to make sure that you are learning from reliable sources. Here are some reasons that you can trust me to be a trustworthy sources of beginning reading education.​
Qualifications
Notable Work
Educational Philosophy
Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Ouachita Baptist University​
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​I have a strong academic knowledge base and am certified to teach.
Thousands of in-the-field teaching hours
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I have been trained time and again about the best practices for educating children, which has given me an extraordinary range of teaching tools to pull from.
Teaching experience in all kinds of settings​
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My teaching career has been a bit random so far, but it has allowed me to really get a feel for what education looks like right now.
Every child deserves a fair chance to succeed in school. It is my goal to help ALL teachers everywhere by creating high-quality resources that are free and accessible to anyone who wants to learn how to read (or how to teach reading). Education should not be about someone somewhere making a profit off of empty promises, especially when it comes to something as important as reading.
The rumors are true...I have had twelve(ish) jobs over the past six years.
If you are curious why that is, many of these jobs were for just a summer in between college semesters. (Don't worry, I never got fired.) I was still exploring different types of work to see if I could find a specific calling, something I was particularly passionate about. After I graduated, I started moving around and trying new things. I also started expanding my ideas of what teaching and learning can look like. I have taught many groups of learners, all from incredibly different backgrounds. No matter which job I was holding at any given point in time, I was always learning more about how to be a good teacher. Here is a valuable thing I have learned from each experience:
Job 1:
Teacher Assistant at therapy day center
Teaching is a team effort. If everyone is not on the same page, things can get really messy (literally).
Job 4:
Elementary Group Teacher at a summer childcare program
Advocate for every child, even the ones who are constantly testing everyone's limits.
Job 6:
Caregiver in nursery at child care center
Children are communicating all of the time, even from babyhood. You can teach them lots about language and communication from the very beginning.
Job 9:
Babysitter for infant and preschooler
Physical, emotional, and mental development happen fast. Take note of patterns and celebrate every accomplishment!
Job 12:
In-Person Tutor for kids at a learning center
It is important to let kids have time to be kids. Break up long stretches of work with creative practice activities to encourage ongoing active engagement in learning.
Job 2:
Teacher at a child care center
Every child has a different perspective on everything that happens (just like every adult!). Be a listener and a guide to help them make conclusions and find solutions.
Important Experience
Student Teacher in 1st and 6th grade classrooms
Make real connections with each child to create an environment where everyone feels safe and important. That is when real learning happens.
Job 7:
Substitute Teacher for K-12
Most elementary students look up to their teachers in one way or another and they are happy to share why. Learn from what they say.
Job 10:
Coach for school PE and afterschool enrichment
Many kids are very competitive and still need help learning how to win and lose gracefully. It is a great opportunity to talk about empathy.
Job 3:
Recreational coach at a gymnastics gym
It is okay to tell kids when they are doing something wrong. Help them understand what that means and how to fix it.
Job 5:
Hostess at a restaurant
Be patient with people. Be kind to yourself. Try to not blame children for things that are out of their control.
Job 8:
Hybrid (online/in-person) Reading Teacher for reading program
Every teaching job has its own learning curve, especially when it is something as new as widespread virtual learning.
Job 11:
Online Reading Teacher for kids across the United States
Teaching through a screen is almost an entirely different skillset than traditional, in-person teaching. It is also a very underdeveloped space with lots of room for improvement.
I also want to assure you that I do not rely on AI in any capacity for writing, designing, planning, or any other purpose. Although AI is becoming an integrated piece of technology in the world today, I can promise that everything created for Reading Recess has been extensively researched and comes from real life experiences.
Can I be part of a Reading Recess video?
(P. S. That being said, I am always open to hearing your ideas and talking about what you think could be fun in the future!)
First of all, that is a great idea and I am flattered that you are interested! Right now I am staying small with my personal team, but be on the lookout for updates if interest starts to build up.