the growing room

Mrs. Van Norstand - Golden View Elementary School

the growing room

Mrs. Lafollette, Kindergarten Teacher at Live Oak Elementary School

Q: What's your favorite color?

A: Green

Q: Do you have any children?

A: I do, I have 2 children their names are Nick and Katie

Q: What was your favorite vacation ever? 

A: I love to go to Europe and France. I used to live in Europe

Q: What is your favorite hobby?

A: I like to make bouquets of fresh flowers and I love to travel

Q: What's your favorite animal?

A: Dogs

Q: What's your favorite food?

A: Healthy food like tangerines. I try to ignore junk food but I don't always succeed.

Q: What is your favorite movie? 

A: Schindler's List

Q: What is your favorite flavor of Yogurt?

A: Vanilla

Q: Are you a good artist?

A: No, I'm not very good but my students tell me to just try!

Q: What is your favorite T.V. show? 

A: 60 minutes

Q: What is the best book you've ever read?

A: Corelli's Mandolin

Q: Do you have a favorite student?

A: No, they are all my favorite

Q: Where were you born?

A: I was born in Redwood City, California

Q: What is your favorite sport?

A: Water polo because my son played it in High School and I also like baseball

We love you Mrs. Lafollette!

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Mr. Gann, 2nd Grade Teacher at Neil Armstrong Elementary School, Focus Program

 

Thanks Mr. Gann!  You are the best!

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Mrs. Coquia - Hidden Hills Elementary School Kindergarten

Q:  How long have you been teaching? 

A:  15 years

Q:  What was your favorite subject in school when you were in Elementary

School?  

A:  Writing, Reading and Math

Q:  What is your favorite color?  

A:  Red

Q:  What is your favorite board game?  

A:  Chutes and Ladders, Cars Monopoly.

Q:  What is your favorite fruit and vegetable? 

A:  Peas and broccoli and strawberries. 

Q:  What is your favorite dessert? 

A:  Ice cream

Q:  What is your favorite food? 

A:  I will eat anything

Q:  What is your favorite book to read to your class? 

A:  “Gingerbread Story”  “Guess How much I love you” and “Hungry Caterpillar”

Q:  Have you ever lived in a different state? 

A:  No, I’ve always lived in California.  I’ve lived in Napa, San Jose, Rockin and then San Ramon

Q:  Where do you like to go on vacation? 

A:  Hawaii and Monterey

Q:  What do you like to do on the weekends? 

A:  Sleep in and go out to dinner.

Q:  Where did you go to college? 

A:  San Jose State

Q:  Did you always want to teach Kindergarten? 

A:  No at first I went to school to be an artist and a psychologist.  I love teaching Kindergarten!

Q:  Who is your favorite sports team? 

A:  49ers

Q:  Who is your favorite cartoon character? 

A:  Team Umizoomi and Millie

Q:  What is your favorite animal? 

A:  Zebra

Thank you for visiting Coquia!  You are great!

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Mrs. Rohrbach, Tassajara Hills Elementary School

Spanish Teacher, loves to teach 2nd graders and has been teaching for 26 years

Favorite Food: Mexican Food

Favorite Color: blue and orange

Enjoys walking

Favorite Sport: Water Polo

Q:Where is the most beautiful place you have ever been?

A:Nigeria

Q:Who has made a big difference in your life?

A:My 5th grade teacher

Q:Do you like what you do? 

A:yes

Q:What is something you did that you are proud of?

A:I was in the Peace Corp

Q:Was it hard for you to learn Spanish?

A:Yes, it was difficult. I had it in 5th grade all the way to college. Then when I moved to Nigeria it became fluent.

Q:Do you have a favorite pet?

A:Yes, a cat named Moe!

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Mr. "I", PE Teacher, Live Oak Elementary School

Q: Have you ever been on T. V.?

A: Yes, back in High School, I was on a sports team and we were on T.V.

Q: When is your birthday?

A:  Today is my half year birthday, so can you guess? It's April 24.

Q:  What do you like to teach the most during P.E.?

A:  I like to play capture the flag because everyone gets to participate and be together.

Q:  How many classes do you have for P.E. in one day?

A:  It varies, but usually seven.

Q:  Why are you so strong?

A:  I eat healthy, exercise, get lots of rest and I eat my veggies and fruits!

Q:  Who are your favorite football and baseball players?

A:  Tim Linecum and Ricky Henderson from the Giants and Barry Sanders and Billy Sims from the Detroit Lions

Q:  What is your favorite sport to play?

A:  I love to play baseball

Q:  How old are you?

A:  42

Q:  When did you learn to be a P.E. teacher?

A:  In college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, about 20 years ago

Q:  What do you like to do in your spare time?

A:  I play lots of sports and right now we are working on our house so I spend lots of time painting, building and taking things apart.

Q:  What is your favorite color?

A:  Blue

Q:  What is your real name?

A:  Jeremy Innocenti

Q;  What do you do for a living?

A:  I am a coach, a physical education teacher and a parent.

Q:  What do you like about being a P.E. teacher?

A:  I get to work outside and I get to know all of you. Also, I don't have to give tests, or correct homework or go to conferences.

Q:  Do you like working with Miss Jensen?

A:  Yes!

Thank you for helping us Grow Fit Mr. I!

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Mrs. Bidinger, Twin Creeks Elementary School

Q: What grade do you teach?

A: I teach Kindergarten

Q: How long have you been teaching?

A:  Since way back! I started right out of college in Minnesota in 1979. Then I took a long break to raise my family, then I came back to teaching at Twin Creeks. So about 20 years altogether.

Q:  What is your favorite color?

A:  My favorite color often changes, but I like ocean colors and right now my favorite is periwinkle blue.

Q:  What is your favorite food to eat?

A:  I could eat anchovies and green olive pizza everyday and never get tired of it.

Q:  Do you like to go fishing?

A:  I grew up in Minnesota and in the winter time my favorite thing to do was to go ice fishing.

Q:  Do you like teaching?

A:  I love teaching because everyday is different and every Kindergartner is different. I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing.

Q:  Can you teach me how to paint a rose?

A:  I'm still learning how to paint a rose, but all we can do is try our best!

Q:  Do you have any children or pets?

A:  I have 4 children between Mr. B and I. Two of our children are teachers.

Q:  When is your birthday?

A:  In March

Q:  What is your favorite baseball team?

A:  I like to watch both the Giants and the A's but I still have a place in my heart for the Twins.

Q:  What is your favorite show to watch ?

A:  I watch a show from when I was little, but I still love it. The Dick Van Dyke show.

Q:  What is your favorite store?

A:  I like going to Whole Foods because there are so many fruits and vegetables, some I've never seen before and it's fun to try new ones.

Q:  What is one interesting thing about you that not many people know about?

A:  Soon, I will be a grandmother of three babies.. I also have a granddaughter starting Kindergarten in North Carolina.

Q:  Do you have any special talents? If so, what?

A:  When I was in Kindergarten my mother had me wiggle my nostrils and I can yodel in a silly way, my husband could always hear me cheer for him!

You are a GREAT Teacher Mrs. Bidinger!

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Mrs. Mohr, Live Oak Elementary School

Q: Did you watch the Super Bowl?

A: Yes, I taped it so I could re-watch the commercials.

Q: What is your favorite sport?

A: Girls Lacrosse is my favorite right now because that is what my daughter plays.

Q: What is your favorite team?

A: The Sharks, I enjoy going to their games with my family.

Q: Where do you live?

A: I live not far from here in Danville

Q: Do you drive a bus?

A: No, I never have. I've driven a truck but never a bus.

Q: Are you married?

A: Yes, and I have 1 daughter who is a Sophomore in High School, she used to go to The Growing Room

Q: Have you ever been to India? No

A: Who is your favorite Disney character? I love them all but I think I like Micky and Minnie Mouse the best.

Q: What is your favorite color?

A: Right now it's purple.

Q: What is your favorite animal?

A: I love all animals but dogs are my favorite.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A: Yes, I have 3 dogs

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: Toy Story

Q: What is your favorite T.V. show?

A: Probably American Idol

Q: have you taught at any other schools?

A: Yes, I taught at Twin Creeks for 4 years, then Quail Run and then here.

Q: What do you like most about being a teacher?

A: I love working with kids and watching them learn and grow.

Q: What do you do on the weekend?

A: I enjoy spending time with my family and my dogs

Q: What is your favorite age to teach?

A: Kindergarten is my favorite

Q: Where is your favorite place to shop?

A: I like to look at the shops in Broadway Plaza, but Stoneridge Mall is fun too. I shop with my daughter.

Q: Where have you traveled?

A: I have been to Mexico, England, the Mediterranean, Italy and Greece. I took a Cruise to visit some of these.

Q: Do you play Angry Birds?

A: I just got a new iPhone, so yes I do.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

A: Moose Tracks

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Italian

Q: What is your favorite holiday?

A: Christmas

Thank you for being a great Kindergarten Teacher Mrs. Mohr!

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Ms. Jaire, Hidden Hills Elementary School

Q: How long have you been a teacher?

A: 15 years

Q: What grades have you taught?

A: Kindergarten and 1st. And a Kindergarten/1st combo class.

Q: Have you ever taught in a different state?

A: No, only in California and only in Contra Costa County.

Q: What college did you attend?

A: I went to U.C. Berkeley

Q: What is your favorite color?

A: I love any shade of blue.

Q: What is your shoe size?

A: I wear a 7 1/2

Q: Do you have any children?

A: I usually tell people I have 28 children because I have 26 kids in my class, and 2 at home. I have a 9th grader and a 6th grader and they both went to The Growing Room

Q: What is your favorite book?

A: For a kids book I like,"The Gingerbread Baby" and my favorite adult book is "The Hunger Games"

Q: In what state were you born?

A: California

Q: Have you ever broken a bone?

A: Never

Q: What is your favorite Disney character?

A: Mickey Mouse

Q: Do you have a Mom?

A: Yes I do

Q: Do you have a pet?

A: A wiener dog named Meko who is 16 1/2 years old and Brownie my guinea pig.

Q: What was the name of your Kindergarten teacher?

A: Mrs. Lutrup

Q: What is the best thing about being a teacher?

A: The children, I love being with them and watching them learn and grow.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: I like Mexican food, tacos and chips and salsa

Q: What is your favorite sport?

A: I am glad you asked, I have taken up running. I ran my first marathon in October and a few half marathons. This Sunday I am running another marathon in Disneyland.

Q: What is your favorite subject to teach?

A: I like to teach art, maybe because I am left handed and my right brain likes to be creative. I love to draw!

We love you Ms. Jaire!

the growing room

Mrs. Jones, Tassajara Hills Elementary School

Q: Is it hard having 4 kids and teaching?

A: Yes, but it's easier having been a teacher, it's like having a small reading group all day.  So yes and no, teaching is my vacation time.  I couldn't imagine doing anything other than teaching.

Q: What is your favorite animal?

A:  Dog, they are small enough to fit in your lap, even when they are bigger they can still sort of sit in your lap.

Q:  What do you do on the weekends?

A: I play with the kids and clean.  I clean a lot.  We go to the park a lot and the little farm in Berkeley.  I wish I could sleep.

Q.  What is your hobby?

A: Reading!  If I could read every second of the day I would.

Q: Why did you become a teacher?

A: It runs in the family and I felt it was my calling.  I started going to school to be a fashion merchandiser, but switched to teaching.

Q:  How hard is it to clean up after your kids?  

A:  Hard!  Thsi is always a mess.

Q:  Other than work, do you have other free time?

A:  My church gives me three hours a week of babysitting!  I am thankful- it is very precious time.

What a great teacher you are Mrs. Jones!  Thank you!