Prior to joining Silver Oaks Cooperative School, Ms Gloria taught Third Grade, First Grade, and Early Learning for seven years in nonpublic school settings in Washington D.C. and Maryland. She has studied and uses approaches such as Reggio Emilia, the Project Approach, and play-based learning. Ms. Gloria lives in Adelphi, Maryland with her husband and is a proud mother/grandmother of an adult son and daughter and a 2-year-old grandson! In her spare time, Gloria is a student of history and enjoys volunteering at the Smithsonian Museums, the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and the National Air and Space Museum (NASM). Ms. Gloria is an avid birder who loves nature, reading, researching, gardening, bicycling and traveling to the great outdoors.
Lucky for us, Ms Gloria answered some of our burning questions in this super exciting interview!
Ms Gloria, what is your favorite book? I enjoy books about nature, animals, travel and history. A few of favorite children’s books that I’ve enjoyed reading to my students this year are a Tiny Seed by Eric Carle, A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston, Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault.
Ms Gloria, what is your favorite food? A few of my favorite foods include berries, watermelon and guacamole and chips.
Ms Gloria, do you have a favorite color? My favorite color is all shades of blue!
The Acorns and Ms Gloria searching for rainbows (with spray bottles in the sun)…
What is your favorite weekend flower? I love growing roses! My favorite flowers are roses, orchids and hibiscus plants.
Is there anything about outdoor teaching that you did not expect? I’ve had a blast teaching this year at SOCS outdoors! As an avid bird lover, teaching in the glen [the outdoor classroom] has brought me closer to our feathered friends. It’s been so cool to sight and hear the songs of woodpeckers, blue jays and cardinals and many other species of birds throughout the day!
Is there anything you particularly love about SOCS? What I love the most about teaching at SOCS is the wonderful, close and supportive community of staff, teachers, parents and students.