Michael Sheets Found a Love for Teaching While Parenting

Michael Sheets never planned to be a teacher.  But while parenting two children, he discovered a love for helping young minds grow.  "This age group appealed to me as a great time as a parent and just all around special time for youngsters."

Sheets brings that parental joy into his first grade classroom.  He’s not afraid to act silly, lay down on the floor during a math lesson or anything else as long as it gets his classes attention.  "In the younger grades there’s such an opportunity to touch a child in a positive way that will affect them throughout their education experience in school and this is the time to get them, in the early grades."

Students love his relaxed style and words of encouragement.  During a recent assignment on poetry he told the class "I know you can write a good poem.  Carson, did you know that when you came to first grade today that you were a poet?"

Student have nothing but glowing comments about their teacher.  Like "he makes everyone laugh, he says that he has an alligator with pink pants"… or "he’s crazy and funny and nice"… or "he makes school fun, he’s the best teacher"… or even "he’s very, very smart."

Sheets also offers several hands on activities in class, like math lessons centered around the hatching of chick eggs in an incubator.  1st Grader Kara Mullins says "the eggs, we always have a quiz to see which one will hatch first."

Sheets says he’s not doing anything he considers to be "extra."  He says creative activities that encourages positive learning should be the norm.