Janet Kelly

5th Grade Math Teacher
Nathan Hale Ray Middle School
East Haddam, CT
20 years working in education

Get to know Janet Kelly

What do you love about working in education? What motivates you? 

I love everything about teaching! My favorite part is that moment during instruction, after wait time, watching the gears shifting in a student’s brain, and then AHA, it all clicks into place and he or she gets it!

Why did you become a teacher? 

I became a teacher because there were several teacher who impacted my life greatly because they believed in me, I wanted to be able to pay that forward for others. I became a math teacher because I love math. I wan’t always the best at it, and I was the kid who cried because I felt frustrated, but when I got it – I really got it! I love that eureka moment when it just makes sense. I wanted to be able to help others to experience those light bulb moments!

What is your “Edulastic story”? 

I began using Edulastic last year when I was a seventh grade math teacher and continue to use it present day in my fifth grade math classroom. As I worked with Edulastic, I began to discover how amazing it is as a blended learning tool. It helps foster a growth mindset in my students as we work to try and try again to gain mastery. It helps with our team building and sense of classroom community as my students work together and offer each other support while completing Edulastic assignments. Edulastic also provides me with an awesome tool for formative assessment and implementing a reverse classroom.

Describe your favorite Edulastic “aha” moment.

My great Aha Edulastic moment, was when I decided to use it to reverse my classroom. Several of the standards for which I am responsible to teach don’t require intense or whole group instruction during class time and can be taught through blended learning opportunities. With Edulastic, I am able to select specific questions for specific standards and assign them for homework. Based on the results, I am able to provide reteaching and small group instruction as needed.

Janet’s students work diligently on an Edulastic assignment. In a blog post, Janet describes how she uses digital assessment in her classroom.

What are your teaching/learning goals this year?

My goals this year are to help my students work towards achieving mastery of the grade 5 mathematics standards and to develop a growth mindset that will serve them well in learning and growing.

Sum up your teaching philosophy in a few sentences! 

I believe that all students can learn. I believe that through kindness, care, support and perseverance, all students will meet with success.

Favorite motivational quote:

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” Abraham Lincoln

Tips for new Edulastic users:

Stay with it! Trial and error is a great strategy! Explore one piece at a time and don’t be afraid to ask for help. There’s a great network of support on twitter and there is also super helpful support right on Edulastic.

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