Hello! My name is Kara Petersen and I have been teaching for 15 years. For the majority of my teaching career I have taught second grade. I love this age group because of the huge growth I see in learners, especially with their reading! I graduated in 2009 with a BA in Elementary Education with an emphasis in psychology; I am fascinated by how children's brains develop and learn! In 2023, I graduated with a Masters in Reading Education. These classes emphasized the Science of Reading, which pairs beautifully with my interest in how people learn.
I also love puzzles and escape rooms, something that I bring into my teaching as often as possible. Making learning engaging and fun is one of my favorite challenges and I am always searching for new and fun ways to practice a skill. 
Using principles of the Science of Reading, I teach students who may be having a difficult time beginning to read. Depending on student need, I may emphasize phonemic awareness or phonics to help develop fluency. Depending on student interest, I may plan a guided writing, craft, drawing, or other activity to build comprehension. 
I also enjoy teaching students to whom reading comes more naturally, with a heavier focus on the comprehension and vocabulary pieces. Word puzzles, escape rooms, writing, and other activities help to extend learning and challenge these motivated students.