Dear Families, My name is Stephanie Elton and I will be your child's first grade teacher this year. I graduated from Ohio University in 2004 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. In 2005 I also earned my Reading Endorsement Certificate from Kent State. I am currently taking graduate classes at Kent state in order to earn my master's in Early Childhood. This is my fifth year with the Stow City School District and my fourth year at Echo Hills. I currently reside in Cuyahoga Falls with my husband and our two ornery beagles. In my spare time I love to spend time with family and friends, play with the beags, surf the web for new and innovative teaching ideas and get as much exercise as possible. I am also a complete bookworm! Teaching has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. I love the challenge of taking "big ideas" and breaking them down into simplified, tangible and interesting concepts that children are able to understand. I also love swapping ideas with other teachers, creating theme units, making my own manipulatives, attending workshops and finding new and interesting ways to reach all learners. Most of all, I love the kids! I love their smiling faces as they come in the door every morning, their eagerness to learn and explore and watching them grow throughout the year. I am looking foward to working with you and your child this year. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call me at school or e-mail me at st_elton@smfcsd.org. Welcome to first grade and have a wonderful year! Hi First Graders! Thank you for stopping by our webpage! I hope you have fun looking at pictures from our classroom and visiting the learning links! Here is all you ever wanted to know about your teacher: I love... spending time with friends and family beagles! reading taking long hikes in the woods music - classic rock, alternative, you name it! road trips Starbucks web page design organizing ...and teaching you! Here are some of my favorites: Food: Schezuan tofu and veggies/Fruit/Cheese pizza Color: Blue Animal: Dog (beagles in particular!) Store: Borders/Creative Curriculum/Macy's Flower: Lily Hobby: Reading Season: Fall/Autumn Kid's Book: Anything by Kevin Henkes Kid's Movie: Finding Nemo Place to visit: The ocean What are some of your favorites? Click the picture of the letter below to e-mail me! Say Hello Anytime!

Also, here are some pictures of those ornery beags! You gotta love 'em!