Welcome to 2nd and 3rd grade English Language Development! My name is Mrs. Braden, and I am delighted to have your child in my class for the 2023-2024 school year. Your scholar will study reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar, with the goals of building your child's English language skills and passing the Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA.) I will also integrate science and social studies content into our reading and writing lessons. 

In this classroom, we are readers, writers, scholars, and creative and critical thinkers.

Defining Moment in Education

I have always loved teaching. During high school, I volunteered in an elementary school library and coordinated a homework club for students. I decided to become a teacher after working with students as the Instructional Technology Specialist at Rio Vista. I loved teaching computer skills to students, and I realized teaching was the perfect career for me!

Core Educational Belief

I believe that every child can learn and succeed, and that it is our responsibility as teachers to ensure that all Amphitheater graduates are ready for college and a career. To accomplish this, I will teach every child as an individual with different needs and learning styles. I am a firm believer in growth mindset: if you read, think, and do the work, you will learn and grow! 

I also believe in teaching creative and critical thinking skills; problem-solving skills; communication and collaboration skills; and leadership and technology skills.

Prior Experience

I have worked at Rio Vista for 6 years! Before teaching English Language Development, I worked as the Instructional Technology Specialist. I taught technology skills to Kindergarten through 5th grade students in the computer lab. I also helped teachers integrate technology in their classrooms; coordinated computer-based assessments at Rio Vista; and maintained all of our campus technology (including desktop PCs, Chromebooks, tablets, SmartBoards, document cameras, and phones.)