Suzanne Brichaux

Elementary Teacher
William Snyder Elementary
Las Vegas, NV
11 years working in education

Get to know Suzanne Brichaux

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

What motivates me the most are kids. The look in their eyes when they really finally understand is worth millions. The way they always smile when they see you the first thing in the morning and hug you when it is time to go home. I truly want to change children’s lives for the better.

Why did you become a teacher? 

My son was struggling in third grade, he probably had ADHD. His teachers at that time were not understanding at all and were always negative about his behavior and attitude. In fourth grade that all changed, he got a saint for a teacher, her name was Ms. Courtney. She was patient and caring and always made me feel like my son was a super star. This teacher motivated me to want to be that special super star for another student. I went back to school at 40 years old to get a second degree in education. I have never regretted the decision.

What is your “Edulastic story”? 

Edulastic was and will continue to be a staple in my room. It is user friendly and easily used a long side Google Classroom. I began using it last year to assign morning work and quizzes for our content. This year I have used it less because of my position as an interventionist. But I have continued to help my teacher friends get it up and running in their classrooms. Next year I want to fully blend my third grade classroom and Edulastic will be the shining star and the student’s number one portal to learning.

Describe your favorite Edulastic “aha” moment.

My Aha moment was when I assigned my first unit math test through Edulastic and walking around the room realized that the students were trying harder than they usually did with paper and pencil. They were using the scratch room and answering more thoroughly.

What are your teaching/learning goals this year?

This upcoming year my teaching and learning goal will be to make more classroom more blended than ever. From the minute we walk in until we go home students will use tech more and I will become more of a facilitator than a lecturer in the room. This will also free up more small group and one on one time for my true strugglers who need to be taught at lower levels and with more supervision.

Sum up your teaching philosophy in a few sentences! 

All students can learn, not the same way or in the same time but in their own way and their own time.

Favorite motivational idea:

Teachers should never stop teaching or learning.

Tips for new Edulastic users:

My biggest tip is to start slow by using some of the great resources in the library. After all as teachers our favorite thing to do is share and borrow work. Start off with a five minute morning task and build your kids up to harder and longer assignments online. Have fun with it. Pretty soon you will be creating your own and uploading and sharing yourself.

Quick Facts