Watauga Elementary

This week, we are excited to spotlight our 4th grade student teacher, Katelyn Dancy! Katelyn is a student at Emory & Henry College and is originally from Marion, VA. Katelyn decided to pursue a career in teaching because she has always loved working with kids and helping them learn. She especially enjoys seeing the moment when something finally “clicks” for a student. Her goal as a future teacher is to encourage and support students while helping them feel confident in the classroom.

So far, her favorite part of working with our 4th graders has been getting to know the students and building relationships with them. She says our class is a fun group and she loves seeing their personalities shine while watching their confidence grow.
One thing that has surprised Katelyn about teaching is how much a student’s attitude can change when they feel that someone truly cares about them. She believes that taking time to listen and show support can make a big difference in how students approach learning.

Katelyn’s favorite subject to teach is English, although her favorite subject when she was in elementary school was science. During her time with our class, she recently taught a science unit about the solar system. She especially enjoyed incorporating hands-on learning activities, such as measuring out the distance between the planets and exploring moon phases using Oreos.
One of Katelyn’s favorite children’s books is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff.

Outside of school, Katelyn enjoys spending time with family and friends and going shopping. She also has an Aussiedoodle named Daisy who keeps her busy. When it comes to treats, she enjoys classic favorites like Oatmeal Cream Pies and Doritos.
In the future, Katelyn hopes to teach upper elementary and create a classroom where students feel safe, supported, and excited to learn. She wants her classroom to be a place where students feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and sharing their ideas.

Her advice to our 4th graders is:
“Ask questions, try new things, and don’t worry about mistakes—they help you grow. Remember: the ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that do… and that could be you!” We are so glad to have Katelyn as part of our 4th grade team!