Set Course with Mrs Rutters

Teaching is my life! I began teaching 20 years ago and love this wild ride! I began teaching at the elementary levels - third, fourth, and fifth grade (math, science, social studies, reading, writing, language arts, health). For several years I was a resource teacher for gifted and talented students (primarily in grades 3 through 8). After staying home with my own children for a few years, I returned to the classroom. Through a fortunate series of events I moved to the middle school level and have been teaching Social Studies at this level for 9 years. Recently I have been creating (and teaching) a new integrated Humanities course for my school. In this course students apply skills from all content areas to address authentic problems and respond to issues critically. We integrate research skills, reading and writing skills, geography, history, listening, and speaking. I am eager to share my experiences with others and to learn from those who have found solutions to some of teaching's biggest challenges.

With the recent increased emphasis on STEM, there has been a decline in focus on the Humanities in many cases. I believe there can't be one without the other. We are all citizens of the world and it is important for us to know how to understand the world in which we live. This means understanding science, technology, engineering, and math, but also appreciating cultural differences and recognizing what we have in common. We must be able to communicate clearly, work cooperatively, and think critically to be successful.

* National Board Certified Teacher - Early Adolescence - Social Studies/ History * Nominated for "Teacher of the Year" for my school system multiple years * Chairperson of the Teacher Advisory Council for CCPS

- Master of Science - Curriculum and Instruction (2016) - Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education with a concentration in Mathematics (1994) - Hold Maryland teaching certificate with endorsements in the following areas: elementary (grades K - 6); Reading (grades K - 8); Social Studies/ History (grades 7 - 12)

I have always said that teaching is my vocation - it is my job, it is my hobby, it is my passion! But it is not my only passion. I am happily married to a fellow-geek who loves video games, reading, debating strange topics, and visiting historical sites. We have a 19 year old son and a 17 year old daughter. They keep us busy! At this moment we are dealing with high school graduation craziness and college application/ waiting for acceptance excitement. I am new to selling my work on TpT but am excited to find a platform to share my passion for learning and teaching with others. So, I am setting course for new friends and new experiences and hoping for an exciting journey!