About Me.
My name is Nicole Light. I was born in 1997 during aftermath of the Grand Forks North Dakota Red River Fire/Flood (external video) and well, life hasn't been easy for me. My parents lost almost everything- and I was born early because my family's dog pushed my mother into labor.
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I was raised by a single mother after she divorced my father while he was battling an alcohol addiction. My childhood was characterized by raising myself emotionally. (Read more.)
Experience
2024
Little Panda Enrichment Center
In charge of teaching 3-6 year olds in a large classroom setting. The childcare has a focus on diversity, a loving environment, and kindergarten readiness. Challenges include reaching students in differing stages of development meeting their emotional needs while they are learning how to play appropriately. They are dependent on the preschool teacher to meet their emotional needs and develop their school readiness skills like listening, exploring, communicating their needs, and more. Independence is an emerging skill.
2023-2024
Explorer Academy
Trained through Fargo Public Schools' new teacher induction program. Trainings included: The Catalyst Approach, Heggerty Phonemic Awareness, Bridges Mathematics, UFLI Literacy Foundations. Created relationships with students. Taught multiple grade levels and students with a diverse array of needs.
2022-2023
Private Teacher
Taught a first grade and a third grade student in family's home. Prepared meals for a special diet, lesson planned tailoring activities to children's individual interests, kept accurate learning records, communicated with both parents, and monitored children's academic growth.
2019-2022
Halliday Public School
Three Academic Years (2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022)
Taught Grades 4-6 in a combined classroom environment, maintained data tracking student progress in reading and mathematics, collaborated with other teachers to create monthly "STEM" days (hands-on learning experiences with multiple educational activities. Coordinated with special education teacher to create acomodations for students with dyslexia, ADHD, epilepsy, and educational autism.
Curriculums included Journey's reading and
Taught summer school 2021 for 1st-2nd grade students in need of reading interventions.
Education
2017-2019
Valley City State University
Bachelor's of Education in Elementary Education including observation and experience in several elementary classrooms, student teaching completed in a 5th Grade classroom, capstone presentation, and required substitute teaching hours. Completed NDSU/VCSU dual degree program while employed as the assistant supervisor at a daycare.
2016-2019
North Dakota State University
Graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Human Development and Family Science with a concentration in child development. Coursework involved psychological, psychomotor, and physical development of children birth through adolescence.
2015-2016
Brigham Young University
Computer science, coding, animation, and religious studies. Completed three dimensional modeling, multiple C++ projects, and animated films under the direction of former Disney/Pixar employees.