Welcome
My name is Ruth Canji and I'm seeking an elementary position for Fall 2012. I have taught in many settings, from university to community center to the public schools. My experiences at the elementary level include working as a 2nd/3rd grade teacher at a CPS school in Kenwood, a Cadre at a public school in northeast Evanston, and as a CPS Kindergarten teacher for four years in the west Humboldt Park neighborhood in Chicago. Most recently, as a Reassigned Teacher and Cadre, I have worked at many excellent CPS schools throughout the city.
In my current position as a Cadre for the Board, I work every day subbing at different schools. I have worked frequently at Belding, Hibbard, and Schubert schools. When I was at Reavis School in Chicago, I taught a 2nd/3rd grade split level class. I took over the class after Spring Break, stepping in to establish and maintain order in a situation in which children had multiple teachers and substitutes over the course of a tumultuous academic year. At Reavis, I worked closely with my grade level teammate to implement an Expeditionary Learning unit on wetlands, culminating with students creating and printing wetlands cards and selling them to benefit Friends of the Chicago River. I also wrote curriculum for Expeditionary Learning units across content areas.
At Orrington School in Evanston, where I worked as a Cadre from Fall 2009-Spring 2010, filling a 3rd grade leave position for several months, I worked collaboratively with the third grade team, including one of the authors of the Everyday Math program. I taught every grade level K-5, including Special Ed push-in and pull-out for all grade levels. I used the Everyday Math curriculum and the Reader’s Workshop and Writer’s Workshop methods of instruction. In addition to classroom teaching, I worked as the ISAT coach for grades 3-5 with ESL students and students working below grade level.
Before working at Orrington, I worked as a Kindergarten teacher on the west side of Chicago for four years. At Cameron School, I became the grade level chair, participated in a long term literacy study under Gay Su Pinnell related to the teaching of Guided Reading, and worked collaboratively with teachers to develop integrated units across the curriculum. All aspects of my instruction were guided by the principles of Balanced Literacy, the components of which informed my instruction and choices about how to help students become better readers and writers.
In addition to teaching in the Chicago Public School system, I have had a variety of teaching and editing experience. I have worked with adult ESL learners at Albany Park Community Center and students at the University of Illinois at Chicago, teaching English classes, basic skills classes, Composition, and Creative Writing.
Finally, during my maternity leave from CPS, I also continued my work with children by providing home-based child care for children from ages 6 months to 7 years, including a child with special needs. I volunteered at several grammar schools, working with teachers in the classroom, fundraising for schools, and writing and editing grants.
I have a special interest in working with students at the elementary school level and look forward to joining a team of committed educators who are passionate about teaching, research, and professional development.
Sincerely,
Ruth Canji