by Jen Myers

(Today kicks off year three of our Classroom Quarterback feature. Each month, Wellpoint, InsideLowell and Lowell Public Schools honor a Lowell teacher for their exemplary work in the classroom and for going the extra mile to serve as a positive influence in the lives of their students. Wellpoint also awards each honoree a $250 gift card to be used for school supplies)

Reading is about a lot more than just understanding the words on the page. To be a really good reader, you need additional skills like being able to visualize what you read, to ask questions as you go, and use context clues to predict what may happen next.  Being a critical reader is the first step to becoming a critical thinker.

All of these skills and more are fully activated in Andrea Baer’s fourth-grade class at the Bailey Elementary School on a recent morning, as the students delve into “After the Fall” by Dan Sanat, the story of Humpty Dumpty’s life following that fateful day he sat on a wall and had that famously great fall.

As Baer reads the story, she pauses, asking the class what they think of situations unfolding in the story, what they would do, what words could describe the actions and motivations of the main character . . .

Hands wave wildly in the air. Engagement and participation are not a problem here.

Baer has just started her eighth year teaching at the Bailey. Before coming to the Bailey, she taught third and fourth grade in Lawrence for 15 years and sixth grade special education in Reading for six years.

“I missed being in the classroom and teaching fourth grade so went back to elementary and started working at the Bailey,” she said. “I have enjoyed every school that I have worked at, but the Bailey is my favorite. It has a great group of kids and families and is a terrific school to work at; I love the students and staff at the Bailey.”

Baer grew up in Andover and graduated from Andover High School. At Providence College, she double majored in psychology and elementary and special education.

She knew she wanted to work with kids, but wasn’t quite sure in what capacity – maybe a counselor/child psychologist or a teacher.

“Once I started my education classes and went into the schools for practicums, I realized that being a teacher was what I wanted to do,” Baer said. “I liked the teaching aspect of it as well as still being able to help kids emotionally.”

She incorporates her psychology background into the culture of her classroom.

“During morning meeting each week we focus on a different skill such as respect, kindness, perseverance, breathing techniques, empathy, or setting goals and I think this helps build self-esteem and their social emotional tool kits,” Baer said. “This helps create a good classroom community in which the kids care about each other. I think it is so important that the kids trust me, feel comfortable and safe in class, and believe in themselves; it helps them become active learners, participate, and ask questions.”

Baer’s efforts do not go unrecognized by Bailey Principal Kimberley Clements.

“Andrea provides a space for students to make mistakes and be who they are in their learning,” said Clement. “The culture in her class creates a place where students thrive.”

Fourth-grade is a fun year, where the kids are no longer “little,” are coming into their independence, always up for a joke, and are willing to take chances, but are still not “too cool” to participate in class and ask for help when they need it.

Baer finds joys being able to teach all subjects and watching her students learn and grow throughout the year through building vocabulary and strengthening their essay-writing skills, to mastering long division, and marveling at science experiments.

“They make me laugh every day and it is so nice to see them supporting each other and working together,” Baer said.

When the students from her fourth-grade classroom hatch, grow their wings, and fly off to middle school, she wants to make sure they feel ready, know they are loved and special, and continue to be supported in meeting high expectations the way they are in her classroom.

“We always talk about “the power of yet” and how it is okay if they can’t do something…yet,” Baer said. “I want them to persevere, work hard, and be kind.”

“We have a poster in our room that says, ‘work hard and be nice to people’,” she added. “I always tell the kids if they do those two things everything will work out well.”

All About Ms. Baer

Hobbies:  skiing, reading, going to the beach, spending time with my family and friends
Dream Vacation:  Greece
Favorite song to sing in the car:  Anything by Pink or Zac Brown Band
Favorite meal:  Pizza
Favorite snack:  Cheez its
Favorite Movie:   Anything with Adam Sandler
Favorite Book:  Historical fiction (especially books by Kristin Hannah)
Favorite TV Show: The Office
Favorite Fictional Character: Charlotte from Charlotte’s Web