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Chandler, AZ (KPHO) — The equation is simple: Hard work, plus meeting a child where and how they learn best, equals success for the fourth-graders at Carlson Elementary School in Chandler.
Mrs. Julie Malitzia knows that each student in her class learns differently. So she teaches different ways to attack a problem. A one-size-fits-all way of thinking does not fit Mrs. Malitzia’s out-of-the-box way of teaching.
within the Chandler School District.
We paid Mrs. Malitzia a visit to present her with a Silver Apple Award. Additionally, our partners at the Arizona Dairy Council presented Mrs. Malitzia with a $500 check.
“We just want to thank you so much from the Arizona Dairy Council and all the dairy farmers around Arizona,” said Rosemarie Burgos-Zimbelman with the Dairy Council. “We believe in education, and it makes perfect sense to be able to sponsor and give you this check for $500.”
“I love fourth grade because they are just independent enough, but they’re not too cool for school,” explains Mrs. Malitzia. “They can still give me a hug or a high five, and they tell me about their weekend. They’re still sharing about their personal lives with me, yet they’re becoming independent thinkers.”
One of Mrs. Malitzia’s fourth graders, Ava Parks, nominated her teacher for the Silver Apple Award. She read her nomination letter to the class: “I think Mrs. Militzia is an outstanding teacher because she is incredibly kind. She has taught us a lot of different ways to multiply, which is very creative and helps us remember how to multiply. She is very passionate about reading. Every day, at about 10:00 she has us pull out our “Journey’s” book and we all read a new story together. She has taught us to be kind. I just love Mrs. Militzia and you will too.”
Besides reading, writing and arithmetic, Mrs. Malitzia also hopes her students walk away with important life lessons.
She says she wants to see her fourth-graders, “doing the right thing when no one is watching; doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do, not because you’re going to get a reward for it.”
Thank you, Mrs. Malitzia, for being an outstanding teacher!
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