PreK-K Instructor for the Saturday Enrichment Program
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up?
My name is Alex Kensinger and I am originally from Minnetonka, Minnesota. I graduated from the University of Iowa in 2008 with a degree in Elementary Education. I am currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Literacy Education from Northern Illinois University.
How did you get interested in your subject area? What is your favorite content to teach?
Teaching has been a passion of mine ever since I was a child. I want my students to experience academic and social growth throughout the school year, and to become lifelong learners. I always enjoyed reading and math in school, and those two subjects continue to be my favorite subjects to teach. I liked solving equations in math, and algebra quickly became my favorite mathematics subject.
Tell us briefly about your favorite teacher.
My sophomore English teacher inspired in me the love of reading, and dissecting novels in literature discussions. She had a passion for making literature, such as “The Great Gatsby,” come alive for students, and instilling in students the passion to read and be a lifelong learner. She introduced us to rich literature pieces that sparked interest in me, and were novels I would have never picked up on my own. As I teach reading, I strive to use authentic texts with my students, and introduce them to a variety of authors and genres. As my high school English teacher did for me, I want to make reading come alive for students, and spark in them a passion to read and make sense of the world around them.
What is it like working with gifted kids? Describe the energy in your classroom.
I have a blast working with gifted students in the Saturday Enrichment Program. They bring an energy to class that exudes excitement for learning and are passionate to ask questions that pique their interest. I love planning engaging and hands-on lessons for students about material they are interested in and are passionate about. It is amazing how many fun activities you can pack into one Saturday session for students. It is very rewarding to hear parents talk about all the material and information their child is absorbing in class, and how much they look forward to coming to school on Saturday! The students’ excitement for learning and coming to our SEP class reminds me why I became a teacher in the first place.
What do you enjoy doing outside of SEP?
In my spare time, I enjoy reading a good book, traveling, baking chocolate chip cookies, and running/training for long distance runs. I ran the 2004 Twin Cities Marathon, and I hope to train for another marathon in the future.