Ms. Tanji Fields is coming to Columbia Elementary School serving as the new Literacy Interventionist and teaching Spanish as a middle school elective. Prior to coming to Columbia, she has taught abroad in Latin America and in the Bay Area as an elementary teacher and a 6-12 Spanish teacher.
“I taught English Language Learners in a rural mountainous area of Honduras as a missionary teacher with World Gospel Outreach,” explained Ms. Fields. “I got a lot of practical experience trying a wide variety of strategies to help students from Grades 1-6 read, write and speak English more fluently. I am excited to bring that experience to this job.”
Ms. Fields hopes to help students make the most progress possible and incorporate strategies she learned from her time in middle and high school and Honduras to help build relationships and provide support to necessary literacy skills.
“I want to make sure that the students know that I care,” she said. “I want to show them the passion that I have for them and for them to see it. I regularly ask myself, ‘Is what I’m doing working?’ If they don’t get it, I think of additional ways to teach it.”
The students at Columbia Elementary School have a 30 minute Enrichment period, designed to give students opportunities to address areas for growth and build upon their current strengths. Out of the district’s Enrichment period, she wants to help students make the most progress as possible, and she believes they will be “pleasantly surprised” at the amount of progress they will make.
“My favorite memories as a teacher have always been about making connections with students, especially when having a good laugh with them at my silliness,” Ms. Fields smiled.
In her spare time, Ms. Fields “loves” to hike and backpack. She can go on trips that last 5-10 days with all the necessities strapped to her back enjoying all that is around her.
Fast Facts
Favorite Book in Elementary School: Heidi, The Hobbit, and Seabiscuit
Favorite Book as an Adult: Jane Eyre
Favorite Movie in Elementary School: “Mary Poppins”
Favorite Movie as an Adult: “Braveheart” and “The Sound of Music”
Favorite Game to Play at Recess: “Spinning on the parallel bars.”
Favorite School Lunch: “Any lunch my mom made was my favorite.”