by Jen M yers

It is the second to last week of school, but the students in Linda Tudryn’s third-grade class at the Bailey Elementary School are as engaged as they were in October.

They sit quietly on the rug as Ms. Tudryn reviews the literary devices they had previously learned like metaphor, alliteration, personification, and rhyme, in preparation for the beginnings of an important project – the writing of their first poem.

Poetry can be intimidating. Ms. Tudryn breaks it down in a way that makes it simple. Each student picks a crayon. They then receive a worksheet where they answer (the color) is . . . (the color) smells like . . . sounds like . . . looks like . . . feels . . . makes me . . .

These are the prompts that get the creative juices flowing. Blue is a blueberry. Green is a fire-breathing dragon. Red smells hot. Once they have all of the answers about their particular color, the lines come together as a poem. The crayon is then used to draw a picture to go with it.

“I love watching students grow as learners,” Tudryn said. “Teaching third graders how to think critically is rewarding. I challenge them to push their thinking and dig deeper into their initial ideas to make connections and form new understandings of the topics we study.”

Ms. Tudryn grew up in Holyoke and earned her bachelor’s degree in History from UMass Amherst. She came to UMass Lowell to earn her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in Elementary Education and never left.

She caught the teaching bug when she volunteered to teach after school classes to elementary school students when she was in high school in Holyoke. She began her career in Lowell teaching fourth grade at the Greenhalge Elementary School and has been teaching at the Bailey since 2017.

She said the big hit in her classroom this year was interactive read aloud. The class reads a group of related books and spends time sharing ideas and discussing what they learned.

“Students then show their understanding of the books in different ways- pretending to be a reporter and preparing interview questions for a firefighter, drawing a poster to teach about the Titanic, or creating an infographic showing the effects of pollution on animals,” she said. “These projects allow students to show what they learned in a variety of ways.”

“Linda creates a warm, learning environment where everyone is welcomed with open arms,” said Bailey Principal Kimberly Clements. “Students in her class are eager to learn and show what they know.”

Tudryn said when you have a classroom full of students it can be a challenge to reach students where they are, at all ability levels. She works with her colleagues at the Bailey to understand each child’s needs and conducts a lot of planning to help each student be successful.

“I work to create a safe caring environment where students feel comfortable taking risks. I emphasize trying, especially when things are hard because this helps your brain grow,” Tudryn said. “It’s important for students to know that making mistakes or not getting it right the first time is a part of learning. My goal is for my students to become confident and successful learners.”

She said she has seen a lot of changes in education in the last 20 years, but is most grateful for the way Lowell Public Schools has increased supports to and resources for  multi-lingual learners as they work to learn English, develop their skills, and participate in the classroom.

When students leave her classroom, Ms. Tudryn of course wants them to remember what a metaphor is, but more importantly, “I want students to know that hard work and effort pay off. If they try their best, they will grow as learners. I also want students to know that there are people to support them along the way.”

This summer, Ms. Tudryn can be found relaxing with a book at the beach, taking bike rides, and exploring new places with her family.

All About Ms. Tudryn

Hobbies: Reading, biking
Dream Vacation: Iceland
Favorite song to sing in the car: Whatever is on the radio!
Favorite meal: Lobster
Favorite snack: Anything chocolate
Favorite Movie: Moana
Favorite Book: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Favorite TV Show: Friends
Favorite Fictional Character: Edward Tulane