Ms. Stephanie Morris of Walker Elementary is being recognized for her incredible commitment to TutorMate as the Broward County Classroom of the Year. Throughout this year Ms. Morris has consistently updated student reading levels, corresponded with tutors, and arranged her classroom to enable successful tutoring sessions. These data points cause her to stand out as an outstanding TutorMate teacher!
Ms. Morris is also very intentional about keeping the real human component front of mind. As an online literacy tutoring program, students are sometimes detached from the actual human who is dedicating their time. To combat this, Ms. Morris created a display of tutor pictures that hangs behind the TutorMate computer. Ms. Morris also ensures that students learn their tutors names, which helps them to authentically connect, lower their guard, and get down to the hard work of learning to read.
Ms. Morris’ classroom is built around no-nonsense nurturing. She has created an environment of success and serious learning while still supporting the social-emotional growth of her first graders. By holding students accountable for their own learning and requiring that each child contribute to the classroom culture, she has been able to push her students to high levels of growth. Every student participates in TutorMate, regardless of whether or not they are receiving tutoring. Students are responsible for checking the TutorMate station and answering phone calls, but what’s more they are responsible for encouraging one another to do well and focus during sessions; they are responsible for exemplary behavior while others receive much needed literacy help. First Graders taking ownership of one another’s learning progress is truly a beautiful thing!


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Click here to learn about Broward County Public Schools' TutorMate School of the Year!