Kristy Little. Photography by Kathy Tran.
Little, 34, is from Ohio, where her teaching career began, and she worked in Louisiana before moving to Dallas in 2016. Her husband works in the Dallas ISD central office, and they have two twins who are in first grade at N.W. Harllee Early Childhood Center in Oak Cliff. She teaches reading and language arts to students in the afternoons, and she spends her mornings coaching other teachers.
How she knew she wanted to become a teacher
As the oldest of seven kids, I developed a teacher’s heart and attitude in helping my younger siblings with homework and chores. However, I formally decided to become a teacher while in college, and that decision was solidified after a few years of working with teenagers at a public boarding school in Louisiana.
How she chose her teaching discipline
Growing up, my mom would really monitor our TV time so that my siblings and I would be forced to play outside or read. Reading became my playtime and hobby. I became a voracious reader at a young age. As a result, I loved my English/language arts classes all throughout my academic career.
What’s challenging about teaching kids that age
Students grow up with a few elementary classroom teachers a year, and then suddenly they are in middle school with maybe eight new teachers. It’s hard to internalize all those new personalities and rules. At the same time, many kids are moving to new schools without their elementary friends. That’s why kindness and compassion are so essential to teaching in the middle school grades.
How her teaching style has changed since the pandemic
Kids have a hard time speaking in class in an average year, but throw in computer-based learning, and it all becomes much more challenging.
What’s unique about her classroom
I work hard to develop a discussion-based learning environment. I want kids to ask questions, debate and find new ways of thinking. I want kids reading and writing throughout a lesson, but I try to incorporate several mini discussions. Kids know that I will always be respectful and engaged with them, and that alone sorts out a lot of classroom management issues.
Misconceptions people have about teaching
In general, I think the public could have a better understanding of just how much teachers care about their students. Teachers are stressed, of course. So much of that stress is compounded by how much we worry, think about and fear for our students. That was especially true in this crazy year of the pandemic and winter snowstorm.
A favorite moment in teaching
I had an incredible group of struggling readers one year who banded together and decided they were going to succeed at any cost. These kids would refuse brain breaks and even learning games to have more time for modeling and practice. And together, every single one of those students passed the STAAR and eighth grade that year. That experience stands out as the most inspiring in my career.
Advice for parents of middle school kids
Just keep loving them. The kids will come out of these crazy years soon. Students’ … stories always remind me that my own kids want my time and attention more than anything else.
