Becky Steinbach Explains her Teaching Style, which Earned Her a State PTA Award
Being a third generation teacher, Becky Steinbach believes teaching is rooted in wanting children to be better.
Walking into Becky Steinbach's classroom at Gifford Elementary is an educational experience.
A large bookshelf, smart-board, and whiteboard take up most of one wall. Wooden and hand drawn signs, pictures, and letters reinforce her core beliefs -- passion, manners, hard work, and tolerance. On a pole in the middle of the room, paper cutouts in the shape of peanuts are taped to the wall. The children completed the sentence: I'm nuts about...
This is one of the reasons why Steinbach earned the Wisconsin PTA Teacher of the Year Award.
And this is an example of what her teaching beliefs yield.
A young girl interrupts her to ask to use the restroom. The girl is timid and Steinbach listens to her as she speaks. Waiting for the girl to finish, she tells her she can but asks her to say excuse me if she needs to interrupt someone who is speaking. Steinbach's tone of voice doesn't demean. Rather, the request is rooted in kindness.
She's building a common respect between her and her students, she said. Helping children cope on an emotional level is essential to the bonding process. Laying a foundation of trust and respect allows her to teach on a deeper, more meaningful level. And the children connect with her in a positive way.
This is one of the things parents notice most about their children when they are in her class.
Jeanne Korndoerfer
5:51 pm on Friday, March 25, 2011
Way to go Mrs. Steinbach - congrats! We love Becky & knew her back at Wind Point School as well as Gifford. Great lady & very deserving of the award!
A Betancourt
9:56 pm on Friday, March 25, 2011
Congrats Mrs. Steinbach! You have always been one of Izzy's favorite teachers! Not only are you great with the kids, but you know how to work with us parents to help our kids get a great education. This award is well deserved!
K. Molbeck
5:41 pm on Sunday, March 27, 2011
Congratulations Mrs. Steinbach. Scooter truly enjoys being in your class and thank you for challenging him. We appreciate everything you do for our children.
Holly Krien
10:36 pm on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Ms.Steinbeck,congratulations on this well deserved reward! You always find time for the kids who struggle. Your patience and compassion for teaching is truly amazing! Thank you for making a difference in Mitchell's life, he will never forget you and neither will we! So happy for you!
Mary Beth Danielson
6:29 pm on Thursday, April 7, 2011
So the Journal Times interviewed you for a long period of time - then didn't run any story at all? Just a photo? You are a teacher who has worked at her profession with dedication and imagination for all your adult life. You win a state level Teacher of the Year Award in Wisconsin in 2011 - the year more than a hundred thousand citizens protested changes to unions - including the teacher's union. And the JT can't find anything to write?
Everyone has an opinion on what teachers should do or say. And here you are, showing us how it is done. You, and the other teachers like you who succeed so resoundingly with our crazy American kids - you are a Front Page Story.
Thank you so much for your incredible contribution to our families and community.