When thinking of our fondest memories, our minds travel to second grade. From the very first day, we were greeted with smiles and filled with the knowledge that we would be in good hands. Ms. Wong, a second grade teacher at Baldwin Stocker Elementary School, deserves the utmost praise and admiration for her hard work and dedication. We truly wouldn’t be the people we are today without her. 

The year we had Ms. Wong, she was assigned to teach a combo-class of both second and third graders. The daunting responsibility of teaching two curriculums was made seemingly effortless by Ms. Wong. She conducted the class by taking time to meet the needs of each and every student. She would divide her class time evenly to teach both grades and ensure the quality of the students’ education. Furthermore, the 2nd graders sometimes got an exclusive look at the 3rd grade curriculum and were able to learn ahead.

Of all the subjects, her lessons on English were especially exceptional. We learned all the components to write an essay and perfected our spelling, vocabulary, and figurative language. She also taught us cursive, even though it was part of the 3rd grade curriculum. She would often challenge us 2nd graders by teaching us topics from the 3rd graders’ textbooks. By the time 3rd and 4th grade approached, we had already mastered many of the topics teachers would discuss. 

Ms. Wong would not only explain topics in a way students could easily understand, she also made it fun. One creative approach Ms. Wong took was compiling work from students and creating a “newsletter” given home to the parents. Through this method, students were encouraged to improve their writing abilities while sharing school experiences with their families. Students could write about topics they enjoyed learning in class, fun times at recess, or even favorite lunch foods of classmates. Overall, the newsletter was a creative and motivational strategy to help students practice descriptive writing without even realizing it. 

Not only did she invest energy into her students during class, she also spent time with us outside of class. When Baldwin Stocker used to hold a silent auction, Ms. Wong would sign up to host her annual spaghetti dinner. The first 12 students who signed up and paid would receive a chance to enjoy homemade spaghetti and delicious ice cream in her classroom on an evening afterschool. The lucky few who attended the pasta party created wonderful memories and true bonds that last to this day. The 2012 Spaghetti Dinner will forever hold a special place in our hearts. 

Given these points, Ms. Wong is an uplifting, efficient, and selfless teacher. She is genuinely invested in her students’ well-being by taking the time and effort to continually push them to be their best selves. To this day, our cherished 2nd grade memories still linger thanks to her wonderful teaching skills and hard work. Once again, a big thank you to Ms. Wong for improving our writing skills, connecting with us, and allowing us to become who we are today.