Shelly Fryer is inspiring educator and blogger that teaches in Oklahoma. Though she now teaches at Casady, Shelly taught at Positive Tomorrows from 2013-2017. This school is unique because it is for homeless children in Oklahoma City. Shelly strongly believes in engaging teaching and letting children choose how they learn best, as well as helping children love to learn. She taught in a 1:1 iPad classroom for 3 years; this means that every student in the classroom has their own iPad. Shelly encourages students to share their voices with those not in their classroom and she used resources and apps on the iPad to help them accomplish this. Some of the apps Shelley uses in her classroom include Book Creator and Maker Studio. She also has a blog for the students where they can post reflections, videos, pictures as well as other things. She incorporates art strategies into the classroom and is an Oklahoma A+ School Network Fellow. She travels around and speaks on different occasions. If you would like to know more about Shelly Fryer and her husband Wesley and their speaking engagements click here.
One of the articles on Shelly's blog that I found interesting was "Why My Students Love School." This article really inspired me to want to be a teacher like Shelly. She talked about how school is a safe place for students because it is a consistent, predictable place. I definitely want to strive to make my classroom a safe place for students who don't always have a safe place outside of the classroom. Another point she touched on was that she allows students to learn how they want to learn. They can sit wherever they want and learn how they want in the classroom; they can sit at a desk, in a low chair, at a table chair or in the designated technology free reading nook. Her students are comfortable sharing things with her because they know it is a safe, judgment free zone, and that is something I want to strive for in my own classroom someday. Her students love school because they are able to play, learn at their level, experience music, art, drama, and because it offers second chances.
In her article "Inspired by Dwayne Reed: Welcome to Room 108," Shelly shared that every year her students pick out a song that is their's for the year that inspires them throughout the year. I thought that was a really cool idea. It is something that brings the students together as a whole and is something fun for them.
There is so much about Shelly that is inspiring. I encourage you to check out some of the links I have included above and see what she is all about for yourself!
One of the articles on Shelly's blog that I found interesting was "Why My Students Love School." This article really inspired me to want to be a teacher like Shelly. She talked about how school is a safe place for students because it is a consistent, predictable place. I definitely want to strive to make my classroom a safe place for students who don't always have a safe place outside of the classroom. Another point she touched on was that she allows students to learn how they want to learn. They can sit wherever they want and learn how they want in the classroom; they can sit at a desk, in a low chair, at a table chair or in the designated technology free reading nook. Her students are comfortable sharing things with her because they know it is a safe, judgment free zone, and that is something I want to strive for in my own classroom someday. Her students love school because they are able to play, learn at their level, experience music, art, drama, and because it offers second chances.
In her article "Inspired by Dwayne Reed: Welcome to Room 108," Shelly shared that every year her students pick out a song that is their's for the year that inspires them throughout the year. I thought that was a really cool idea. It is something that brings the students together as a whole and is something fun for them.
There is so much about Shelly that is inspiring. I encourage you to check out some of the links I have included above and see what she is all about for yourself!