Whoo's Mrs. Funfsinn

By Kelli Funfsinn

Whooo's Mrs. Funfsinn

Welcome to 1^st Grade!  I am so excited to have your child in my class and am looking forward to a fun and exciting year.

This is my 19^th year teaching.  I have been in the Peru district for the past 13 years.  Before becoming a 1^st grade teacher, I taught Reading Recovery and Title I.  Prior to coming to Peru, I taught 4^th grade at Waltham Grade School in Utica.

During the course of my teaching, I have come to the conclusion that all children can and are eager to learn if given a positive, nurturing and rewarding environment.  As a teacher, my main goal is to help your child learn to be an independent, lifelong learner.  To reach this goal, I will meet your child from where he or she is at and guide him or her as far as possible, planning very carefully so that your child can feel challenged without necessary frustration.  Another goal, in 1^st grade, is to teach your child that it is essential to always do their best when completing any task.  I want your child to develop and maintain an “I can and will try” attitude.  I feel that attitude enables success.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Northern Illinois University.  Later I attended Aurora University and earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction.  I also took part in a year-long specialized reading program, known as Reading Recovery, through Illinois State University.  The training I received has had a phenomenal impact on the way I approach the instruction of reading.  This program taught me to specifically identify those children in first grade that are struggling with learning how to read.  Besides the identification, I also learned how to design and implement a reading program that would help these children excel with reading.  I continue to expand my educational knowledge by continually taking college courses and regularly attending educational workshops.  My biggest inspiration for learning has been and will continue to be each and every student that has walked into my classroom.  Every child has touched my heart and has taught me something new.

I live in Utica with my husband, Steve, and my three children, Carter, Rylee and Jack.  They definitely keep me on my toes and continue to keep me humble.  In my free time, I love to bake, garden, travel to St. Germain, Wisconsin and spend time with my family and friends.