Mrs. Shideler

My Name is Deborah Shideler, and I have just completed my 35th year in teaching and I still love it! With a BS in Elementary Education from Indiana State University and a MS from Indiana University. I have taught in both public and private schools, grades three through eight. I feel that my wide cultural experiences have given me valuable insights into cultural diversity and different ways of looking at everyday things. I am a life-long learner and enthusiastic about new experiences, an attitude I try to impart on my students.

Debbie’s two children, both grown, and two grandchild live in Indiana and Florida. She has lived in Cape Coral full-time for 5 years, currently residing with her husband, Dan.

As the fifth grade teacher, Debbie works to prepare her students for the upcoming challenges of middle school. She teaches all the academic subjects.

When asked what makes St. Andrew’s special, Debbie replied, “The faculty and parents are like one big family, very supportive. My students constantly surprise me with their enthusiasm and insights. I look forward to each new day when I can let my creativity flow.”

Fifth grade is a very important year to prepare students for their transition into Middle School. Teaching them the importance of becoming independent and responsible students as they prepare to adjust to transitioning from one academic classroom teacher to four academic classroom teachers in the years to come. Skills such as note taking and using every available minute to the best of their ability daily will enable them to achieve the goal set before them. I hope that all my students will leave my classroom with a feeling of accomplish, confidence, and a desire to achieve all that they can achieve in the years ahead.
A vital component of my teaching philosophy is to create a “learning atmosphere”. I understand that each student is an individual that learns at a different rate and different capacity then their fellow students. In order to meet my students’ challenges I find that I must do a variety of different teaching techniques to reach everyone. My classroom works because I have it organized to fit my teaching style. I set high expectations for my students, but they always seem to find it within themselves to meet their goals. My philosophy for teaching follows closely to those people who have achieved success. I try to teach my students that with organization, structure, discipline, mutual respect, and lots of hard work, they too can achieve success. A quote once seen on a church reader board is my motto: Live your life as an Exclamation; Not an Explanation!

Creative projects accompany the novels read in class which include a group project recreating the characters from the novel Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMB to creating a model of Brian’s “New and Improved” shelter from the novel Hatchet. Religion is focused on The Sacraments. At the beginning of the year each student is assigned one of the Sacraments to recreate a diorama depicting an important aspect of that particular Sacrament. Social Studies projects include recreating the home life of one of the Thirteen Original Colonies and recreating a scene from a battle during the American Revolution. Students enjoy spending time at the whiteboards and Smartboard for Math drill. Hands on Science experiments and Brainpop enrich the text assignments.

Religion is not a “subject” in my classroom it is “a way of life” in my classroom. All that we say and do throughout the day revolves around the teachings of our Catholic faith.

When I see smiling faces when tests are handed back, receive a personal “thank you” for the extra help, or observe a “high-five” with a friend when they have accomplished a difficult task then I know that I am succeeding.

SACRAMENTS PROJECTS

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMB Class Project

Wings for the King—Play Field Trips- Alliance for the Arts, Kleist

Thirteen Original Colonies Projects

 

READING
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GRAMMAR
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SPELLING
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WRITING
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MATH
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SCIENCE
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SOCIAL STUDIES
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RELIGION
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