Grace Wegrzyniak

6743 Revere Road • Downers Grove, IL 60516 • (630)819-9470

Grace.Wegrzyniak@gmail.com • https://gwegrzyniakteachingportfolio.weebly.com/

EDUCATION

Illinois State University Graduation Date: May 2016

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
Endorsements: Reading, Science, Social Science, Language Arts
Certificate: Professional Educator License, Type 03, K-9
Dean’s List (2014-2016)

University of St. Francis Completion Date: December 2019

Endorsement: English as a Second Language (ESL)

CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE

First Grade Teacher- Ridge Elementary School, Plainfield, IL 2018-2020 school years
• Integrated research-based instructional practices to meet the needs of all students.
• Implemented balanced approach to literacy instruction to provide opportunities for student to
practice literacy strategies and apply what they are learning
• Integrated various forms of technology including a document camera, tablets, and Chromebooks
to promote student engagement and understanding across content areas
• Used Total Physical Response strategies to support language development with students who
receive English Language Learning (ELL) support.
• Member of Sunshine Committee, a social committee that fostered a positive school climate by
means of planning school events

Reading Interventionist Teacher- Ridge Elementary School, Plainfield, IL 2017- 2018 school year
• Collaborated with classroom teachers, reading specialists, speech pathologists, and special
education teachers to meet the reading goals of all students
• Administered Guided Reading Plus, Comprehension Focus Group, Oral Language Development
Series, Elkonin Boxes, and Developmental Reading Assessment to students in RTI groups.
• Used progress monitoring to collect information and data on student reading growth,
responsiveness to instruction, and effectiveness of instruction
• Observed each student’s precise literacy behaviors in order to provide teaching that supported
students in developing their reading
• Composed individualized reading and writing goals for students based on Fountas and Pinnell’s
Systems of Strategic Actions, a collection of resources used to teach, prompt for, and reinforce
effective strategic actions in reading and writing
• Communicated with parents frequently through phone calls, newsletters, and conferences.

Fifth Grade and Accelerated Third Grade Long-Term Substitute 2016- 2017 school year
Ridge Elementary School, Plainfield, IL
• Prepared and co-taught math lesson plans with special education teacher.
• Administered Primary Spelling Inventory, and used data to determine students’ spelling stage
and grouping for Words Their Way
 • Organized parent-teacher conferences to maximize student-learning opportunities and develop
forward-thinking plans to correct any on-going concerns
• Facilitated weekly class meetings to celebrate and create classroom goals, which aided in
fostering a positive environment for student collaboration and accountability
• Used scaffolding to introduce a March Madness writing unit and incorporated Smart Board
technology to support struggling readers with visual support
• Analyzed data collected from both formal and informal assessments to make informed
instructional decisions about flexible grouping and differentiation
• Used Think-Pair-Share, Quiz-Quiz-Trade, and other Kagan strategies to promote cooperative
learning and active engagement
• Utilized multisensory techniques when teaching volume through math manipulatives, model
drawings, and songs

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL (PDS) EXPERIENCES

Professional Development School (PDS) 2015-2016 school year

• Participated in a yearlong internship and student teaching program that provided authentic
classroom experiences in a diverse Elementary and Junior High School setting

Second Grade Student Teacher- Hunting Ridge Elementary School, Palatine, IL 2015- 2016 school year
• Attended a variety of professional development workshops centered on classroom
management, technology, and Common Core State Standards
• Conducted small group activities with students based on differentiated learning needs.
• Implemented Class Dojo to promote positive behaviors and redirect poor behavior
• Developed a persuasive letter-writing unit based on pets, which involved student-teacher
conferences and addressing an envelope to send to families
• Composed and instructed an interdisciplinary unit focused on economics
• Implemented school-wide PBIS program and CHAMPs Classroom Management initiative
• Taught students grammar rules by utilizing an interactive writing notebook

Eighth Grade Science Internship- Plum Grove Junior High School, Palatine, IL Winter 2015
• Used inquiry-based learning to teach lessons on force, states of matter, and density
• Used Blooms Taxonomy to write effective learning objectives
• Assisted a STEAM course giving guidance on robotics and graphing projects
• Promoted critical thinking through STEAM activities such as penny boats and towers

RELATED SKILLS
• Can speak, write, and read in Polish
• Certified for CPR and First Aid through the American Red Cross Association
• Proficient in various technology including Microsoft Office programs, SMART Board, ELMO,
Office 365, Class Dojo, and Google Classroom