Love of Literature
Tracy Sheldon, TCS 7th and 8th grade Language Arts teacher, fell in love with literature when she was in 8th grade. “My teacher took us on a Close read of S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. Once I realized that there is so much more to be obtained from reading than just for pleasure, I was hooked. High school and college presented many more opportunities to fall in love with reading as I was exposed to more genres,” she says.
“My second grade teacher, Mrs. Schuette, inspired me to become a teacher,” says Tracy. “She had such a passion for children, teaching, and God that made me feel so loved and as though I could do anything I set my mind to, and glorify God in the process. From that day forward, I knew I wanted to teach and instill that love in others.”
“My favorite thing about teaching at The Christ School is the community feel,” she says. “Everyone is here to serve one another, including faculty, staff, parents, and children. We all have a love for God and one another.”
“I love when my students get excited about a story we just read in class, especially when it’s their first time seeing that they can learn so much more than just about characters and setting,” says Tracy. “For example, when they can apply themes and lessons to their own lives and they begin to relate to the characters, setting, and plot. This is when I know that I’ve exceeded my goal as a teacher. This is when our discussions come alive in the classroom and learning becomes a joy for my students. I also love when my students see their essays posted on the board in class, and they feel the pleasure of knowing that hard work pays off. Watching children flourish in reading and writing is the highlight of my life. It never gets old, and it happens more and more every year.”
Tracy continues, “In my classroom, we share stories about ourselves when we read and write in class. Learning about one another is always fun. Also, each quarter, the students work with one another to outperform classmates on creative posters that introduce our new unit. This is an exciting time in the classroom because, not only do they work well together, they always manage to create posters that are extraordinary, which highlights all of their gifts and talents!”
Tracy smiles as she talks about her family, “I have a sweet little angel, Ashlyn, who is almost three, and a loving and supportive husband who understands and adores my passion for teaching. He visits often with Ashlyn, and they always bring a smile to my face, as well as to the students who happen to be in class when my loves visit. Ashlyn calls all of my students her friends and loves to pray for them all. As I said, my favorite part of TCS is the community feel, and even my own family senses it when they come to visit. When away from TCS, my little family of three enjoys time at the beach and at the playground, spending quality time together and loving life and praising God for the beautiful blessings He has provided for us.
“I am so grateful that God has blessed me with this calling. Watching children blossom is the most amazing experience and the most valuable because it helps me grow as a teacher, mother, wife, and most importantly, in my Faith and as a believer in Christ Jesus,” says Tracy.
Tracy shares her favorite Bible verse:
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6