Kathy Daigle

I love teaching in the Grove School System.  The people I work with are my extended family and the students are my "other children".   I enjoy the parents who volunteer in the classroom.  They truly become friends to me.

I still look forward to coming to work. Although I only have a bachelor's in Early Childhood Education from
Oklahoma State University, I have attended workshops too numerous to mention in order to further my knowledge.  My three favorites were "The Author's Workshop" where I was privileged to meet my favorite children's authors; "The Wright Group" three day training in Dallas where I learned to use a literacy system; and PDI training which dealt with using Science in the classroom.

In 2005 my colleagues honored me by voting me District Teacher of the Year. I have also been privileged to present several workshops including "Fit Kids", "Story Extensions", and "Home-made Games".  I have recently begun teaching night classes at NEO Grove which broadens my teaching experience and is rewarding in new ways.  My biggest career achievement, however, was to serve on the committee at the Oklahoma State Department of Education to help write "The Early Childhood Learning Environment" which is an updated curriculum guide to early childhood programs.

My husband of 27 years, Joel, and I own a mobile-home vacation park on the lake.  We do all the maintenance and bookkeeping ourselves.  Our daughter, Kelsey, is grown and newly married.  Our son, John, and his wife are expecting their second child.

Joel was instrumental in helping me move my classroom supplies to the new ECC building.  After it was done, he counted the years I had been teaching and informed me that I could have retired, but that I might as well teach since the supplies were already moved.  Retirement had not even crossed my mind!

My teaching philosophy is to meet the needs of the whole child.  One goal is to broaden their academic concepts using a variety of games and media and using all five senses.  This is the developmentally appropriate way to teach young children. Another goal is to strengthen their fine-motor skills and to help them learn healthy habits at a young age including good nutrition and a daily exercise program.  A third goal is to help students develop their social skills and to find acceptable ways to express their emotions. I supplement the school-adopted curriculum with learning games, songs, and original books I have written to teach concepts.  Finally, I try to be firm but fair so that children can have the guidelines they need to make good choices in life.