Teacher Spotlight on Denise Jordan
Birthplace: Quonset Point, Rhode Island
Title/Responsibilities:
Daughter
Mom of Nicholas Jordan
Teacher - 8th Grade
English Grade Chair
Head Coach - Varsity Swim Team and Middle School Swim Team
Assistant Coach - Varsity Girls’ Soccer Summer
Swim Instructor - Swim Lessons for All Ages
Education: B.A. in English from Mercer University Atlanta; M.A.T. in English from Georgia State University
Title/Responsibilities:
Daughter
Mom of Nicholas Jordan
Teacher - 8th Grade
English Grade Chair
Head Coach - Varsity Swim Team and Middle School Swim Team
Assistant Coach - Varsity Girls’ Soccer Summer
Swim Instructor - Swim Lessons for All Ages
Education: B.A. in English from Mercer University Atlanta; M.A.T. in English from Georgia State University
How long have you been teaching at Pinecrest? 12 years
What inspired you to be a Catholic school teacher? I was very fortunate to have been brought up in a home where our faith was lived with the praying of the daily rosary, Mass on Saturdays and Sundays during the school year, and weekly confession. I knew that my Catholic faith would be a part of any vocation I chose. Becoming a teacher is another story. I never wanted to be a teacher. Having a father who was a pilot, I wanted to be a flight attendant because I enjoyed traveling. That was my plan. While in college, I spent my summers lifeguarding and coaching swimming. A mother once said to me, “You are so good with kids; you should become a teacher.” That was when the seed was planted.
What do you love most about teaching middle school at Pinecrest? I love the opportunity to form my students’ hearts and minds towards God. Sometimes as people age, they become more close-minded. However, I have found that middle school students are still curious about religion, the world, eternal life, God, etc. I especially love having Jesus in the tabernacle in every building and being able to make visits at any time.
Can you share some of your creative teaching techniques? I am constantly trying to figure out better ways to approach teaching 8th Grade English. I guess I would first say that my teaching is centered on love. When a student leaves 8th grade, I hope he or she knows more about writing, literature and grammar, but I hope, more importantly, that he or she feels loved, understood and respected. I greet my students at the door with a question of the day to get a brief one-on-one assessment of how they are doing that day. I communicate in so many ways so that a student never comes to my class anxious about the unknown. Each student knows ahead of time what assignments are due, what materials to bring, and what he or she will be learning that day. There is a structured pattern to my class so that students get into a routine. I have “Mission Accomplished” posters for each homeroom. The class receives a stamp on the poster if everything on the board was accomplished that day. When a class receives fifteen stamps, that class earns a party.
How do you unwind after a day of teaching? I go coach. :) It really is like having two jobs. Rarely do I get a chance to have down time, but when I do, I like to wrap myself in warm blankets and read a good book.
What learning styles do you see that are different between girls and boys? Girls tend to be perfectionists. They want to please and to complete everything thoroughly and meticulously. They come prepared for class and rarely have to borrow something from a classmate. The girls, in general, aim high. They enjoy sitting and learning and taking notes. During free time, they love to talk with each other.
Boys, in general, tend to complete a task quickly as if to say, “Check. Completed.” They have much more energy and would prefer standing to learn. They love to play competitive games both in and out of the classroom. They are much more physical and can get out of control if given the opportunity. They tend to forgive and forget more quickly than the girls.
Who is your favorite saint and why? I do not have favorites of anything or anyone because there are so many I admire. However, I have a special devotion to Padre Pio. I have read so many books about his life - how he could bilocate, how he had the stigmata, how he could read souls, how he could see souls from Purgatory longing for prayers, how he did not like immodesty, how one could become his spiritual daughter. I was also fortunate to go to San Giovanni Rotondo to see where his incorrupt body lies. And so, I pray to him as if he were a dad in heaven helping me here on earth.
I will add that I also love, love, love Mother Teresa, whom I had the privilege to meet when she came to Atlanta for the blessing of one of her hospice homes for women. I was a volunteer at the home. I have a picture of her putting her hands on my head and saying a prayer, then handing me three miraculous medals.
Modern saints inspire me because they show me that despite the times, one can still be holy.
What inspired you to be a Catholic school teacher? I was very fortunate to have been brought up in a home where our faith was lived with the praying of the daily rosary, Mass on Saturdays and Sundays during the school year, and weekly confession. I knew that my Catholic faith would be a part of any vocation I chose. Becoming a teacher is another story. I never wanted to be a teacher. Having a father who was a pilot, I wanted to be a flight attendant because I enjoyed traveling. That was my plan. While in college, I spent my summers lifeguarding and coaching swimming. A mother once said to me, “You are so good with kids; you should become a teacher.” That was when the seed was planted.
What do you love most about teaching middle school at Pinecrest? I love the opportunity to form my students’ hearts and minds towards God. Sometimes as people age, they become more close-minded. However, I have found that middle school students are still curious about religion, the world, eternal life, God, etc. I especially love having Jesus in the tabernacle in every building and being able to make visits at any time.
Can you share some of your creative teaching techniques? I am constantly trying to figure out better ways to approach teaching 8th Grade English. I guess I would first say that my teaching is centered on love. When a student leaves 8th grade, I hope he or she knows more about writing, literature and grammar, but I hope, more importantly, that he or she feels loved, understood and respected. I greet my students at the door with a question of the day to get a brief one-on-one assessment of how they are doing that day. I communicate in so many ways so that a student never comes to my class anxious about the unknown. Each student knows ahead of time what assignments are due, what materials to bring, and what he or she will be learning that day. There is a structured pattern to my class so that students get into a routine. I have “Mission Accomplished” posters for each homeroom. The class receives a stamp on the poster if everything on the board was accomplished that day. When a class receives fifteen stamps, that class earns a party.
How do you unwind after a day of teaching? I go coach. :) It really is like having two jobs. Rarely do I get a chance to have down time, but when I do, I like to wrap myself in warm blankets and read a good book.
What learning styles do you see that are different between girls and boys? Girls tend to be perfectionists. They want to please and to complete everything thoroughly and meticulously. They come prepared for class and rarely have to borrow something from a classmate. The girls, in general, aim high. They enjoy sitting and learning and taking notes. During free time, they love to talk with each other.
Boys, in general, tend to complete a task quickly as if to say, “Check. Completed.” They have much more energy and would prefer standing to learn. They love to play competitive games both in and out of the classroom. They are much more physical and can get out of control if given the opportunity. They tend to forgive and forget more quickly than the girls.
Who is your favorite saint and why? I do not have favorites of anything or anyone because there are so many I admire. However, I have a special devotion to Padre Pio. I have read so many books about his life - how he could bilocate, how he had the stigmata, how he could read souls, how he could see souls from Purgatory longing for prayers, how he did not like immodesty, how one could become his spiritual daughter. I was also fortunate to go to San Giovanni Rotondo to see where his incorrupt body lies. And so, I pray to him as if he were a dad in heaven helping me here on earth.
I will add that I also love, love, love Mother Teresa, whom I had the privilege to meet when she came to Atlanta for the blessing of one of her hospice homes for women. I was a volunteer at the home. I have a picture of her putting her hands on my head and saying a prayer, then handing me three miraculous medals.
Modern saints inspire me because they show me that despite the times, one can still be holy.
