Today's Light Rock 105.3KFM

TEACHER OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER 2011
	Teacher: Grade: School: Number of years teaching: Nominated by:
105.3 KFM along with Lacky Monuments and Tompkins State Bank congratulate Maggie Knaak, a teacher at Galesburg High School, December's KFM Teacher of the Month. Maggie was nominated by Jennie Nichols, a student in her class. Here is what she had to say about her teacher: One way they go above and beyond: She comes in after school to Tudor and help with homework, for starters. Even in times when you're having trouble in classes other than her own, she'll help you with a smile. Not only will she help, but she's easy to approach. Most kids are reluctant to ask for help for a multitude of reasons (everything from a fear of being looked down on to a mind-set that says "I don't need help; I can do this on my own"), but with her it's easy. I fall into the latter category, but I know if I need help I will reach out to her for the help I need, even if it's something as simple as "Do I need a positive or a negative sign here?" Example of how this teacher has helped: I was one of those kids who didn't get the best grades by choice. I had the potential, I still do, but even once I got out of the original situation that made me stop caring I continued to do it. I tried to get better though, but in most of the classes I needed it was the same problem; the teachers had a harder time keeping my focus because they were too busy working with the other kids, the ones who needed more help than I did. It was a huge problem, especially in the larger classes. Then, by the end of my freshman year, I was in a horribly large class of kids who were very hostile towards me, save two friends. I was honestly expecting to fail my first class in high school, like a repeat of middle school. I was expecting more of the same; I was expecting to be left behind. Not only was I left in the loop, but so was everyone else. She did things in a way that kept my attention, understood I take notes a little differently than most, and made class fun. I had her again my sophomore year and the same thing happened. Even if the grades in her classes don't shine perfectly, she reached me. I can honestly say that in my path to get back to doing my full potential, having her as a teacher has really altered everything. Now, things are different. I've been working through the classes I have the trouble in; enjoying the classes I don't need to, and can thank Ms. Knaak for a huge part of it. She helped remind me why Math was my favorite class; it's fun, and should be that way. And I've tried to carry that idea on to all of my other classes, as well. What sets this teacher apart: She goes out of her way to reach everyone in the class; I don't just mean the middle kids, the ones who go well or might struggle a bit but get it in the end, but everyone. This includes not only the usual horrible-graded kids there on purpose or accident, as in most cases of teachers who reach "everyone", but she even reaches the extraordinarily smart ones. The ones who do best not their own, who need it explained once, who understand it perfectly. Even if it doesn't show though in the final letter grade. Most people don't even think about those kids needing reached, but they do, and Ms. Knaak does it while hitting home to everyone else, as well. As KFM's Teacher of the Month, Maggie recieves the Big Red Apple Award with her name engraved on it courtsey of Lacky Monuments, a $100 gift card from Tompkins State Bank, and a balloon bouquet from Casey's Party Creations. Home OES HERE KFM Teacher of the Month. ___ was nominated by___ who is a student-teacher in her classroom and this is what she had to say: “Winning nomination quote”. As the Teacher of the Month, ___ receives a $100 gift card from Toys and Teachers along with the Big Red Apple Award. Honoring teachers who make a difference from Lacky Monuments, Toys and Teachers and Today’s Light Rock 105.3 KFM.

TEACHER OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER 2011

Teacher:
Grade:
School:
Number of years teaching:
Nominated by:

105.3 KFM along with Lacky Monuments and Tompkins State Bank congratulate Maggie Knaak, a teacher at Galesburg High School, December's KFM Teacher of the Month. Maggie was nominated by Jennie Nichols, a student in her class. Here is what she had to say about her teacher:

One way they go above and beyond: She comes in after school to Tudor and help with homework, for starters. Even in times when you're having trouble in classes other than her own, she'll help you with a smile. Not only will she help, but she's easy to approach. Most kids are reluctant to ask for help for a multitude of reasons (everything from a fear of being looked down on to a mind-set that says "I don't need help; I can do this on my own"), but with her it's easy. I fall into the latter category, but I know if I need help I will reach out to her for the help I need, even if it's something as simple as "Do I need a positive or a negative sign here?"

Example of how this teacher has helped: I was one of those kids who didn't get the best grades by choice. I had the potential, I still do, but even once I got out of the original situation that made me stop caring I continued to do it. I tried to get better though, but in most of the classes I needed it was the same problem; the teachers had a harder time keeping my focus because they were too busy working with the other kids, the ones who needed more help than I did. It was a huge problem, especially in the larger classes. Then, by the end of my freshman year, I was in a horribly large class of kids who were very hostile towards me, save two friends. I was honestly expecting to fail my first class in high school, like a repeat of middle school. I was expecting more of the same; I was expecting to be left behind. Not only was I left in the loop, but so was everyone else. She did things in a way that kept my attention, understood I take notes a little differently than most, and made class fun. I had her again my sophomore year and the same thing happened. Even if the grades in her classes don't shine perfectly, she reached me. I can honestly say that in my path to get back to doing my full potential, having her as a teacher has really altered everything.
Now, things are different. I've been working through the classes I have the trouble in; enjoying the classes I don't need to, and can thank Ms. Knaak for a huge part of it. She helped remind me why Math was my favorite class; it's fun, and should be that way. And I've tried to carry that idea on to all of my other classes, as well.

What sets this teacher apart: She goes out of her way to reach everyone in the class; I don't just mean the middle kids, the ones who go well or might struggle a bit but get it in the end, but everyone. This includes not only the usual horrible-graded kids there on purpose or accident, as in most cases of teachers who reach "everyone", but she even reaches the extraordinarily smart ones. The ones who do best not their own, who need it explained once, who understand it perfectly. Even if it doesn't show though in the final letter grade. Most people don't even think about those kids needing reached, but they do, and Ms. Knaak does it while hitting home to everyone else, as well.

As KFM's Teacher of the Month, Maggie recieves the Big Red Apple Award with her name engraved on it courtsey of Lacky Monuments, a $100 gift card from Tompkins State Bank, and a balloon bouquet from Casey's Party Creations.

Home

OES HERE KFM Teacher of the Month. ___ was nominated by___ who is a student-teacher in her classroom and this is what she had to say:

“Winning nomination quote”.

As the Teacher of the Month, ___ receives a $100 gift card from Toys and Teachers along with the Big Red Apple Award. Honoring teachers who make a difference from Lacky Monuments, Toys and Teachers and Today’s Light Rock 105.3 KFM.