Gretchen Harpster
First Grade
Bachelor
of Science in Elementary Education with emphasis in Early Childhood & minor
in Spanish from Southeast Missouri State University May 2002
Master of Arts in Education with a Literacy Concentration, Special Reading
Certification from Maryville University St. Louis, May 2011
4th grade-Rockwood School District (1 year)
Toddler 2 Classroom Lead Teacher-Elegant Child in Clayton (1 year)
3rd grade-Fort Zumwalt School District (3 years)
1st grade-Leopold R-III (this is my 15th year!)
Plans for this year
(and every year)
Strive to teach my students to be strong readers
and writers. To instill in them a love of reading and learning in general!
The SECRET to being
successful in first grade:
Read, read read! Especially "just right" books, ones your child
should be able to read most (about 97%) of the words, one that is
enjoyable, and one that he/she can understand.
Write, write, write! Lists, stories, posters, signs, cards, notes, anything!
Family
I am married to a great guy--Mitch Harpster!
We've been married for 12 years now. We have two fur babies, our dogs, Charlie and Abbie. We have 3 kids: Owen-9, Aaron-7, and Henry-5. We live in Jackson, but love Leopold!
Other Interests/Hobbies
I love reading anything from mysteries to teacher books—even children’s books!
Most of all, I love following the St. Louis Cardinals!
Organizations
(professional/community)
I have been a member of the International Reading Association for about 20
years now.
Memorable Events
The birth of all of our sons, (each 2 years apart!) and our
wedding and honeymoon in Mexico in 2009!
The month I spent in Scotland with the Golden Eagles Marching Band at Southeast
Missouri State University. (We performed at the Edinburgh Military Tatoo for a
sold-out crowd every night!)
The day I adopted my first dog, Piper, when I lived in St. Louis and the day we
adopted our dog, Polly.
My first year of teaching here at Leopold! There is nothing like it --- I love
it!
Having Owen as a student in my class -- watching him learn is so inspiring!
"To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world."