I am eager to meet and partner with you this year! I know we all want your child's third grade year to be a learning experience full of successes.
This year marks my twentieth as a classroom teacher, having taught grades 2, 3, 4, and 6 throughout my career. Although this is my first year at Patsy Sommer Elementary, I have been teaching in Round Rock ISD since 2001.
I graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts double major in English and History, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development. In addition to teaching, I am studying Library and Information Sciences in pursuit of a Master's degree from the University of North Texas.
My husband and I met while we were students at UT and have made Austin our home ever since. Our children both attend RRISD schools and keep us very busy, during [what we vaguely remember calling] our spare time!
Welcome, Third Graders!
Mrs. Mensing in 3rd grade, when she was known as "Dina Wilson".
I am so excited to be your third grade teacher this year! Since this will be my first year at Sommer Elementary, let me share a few things about myself:
1. I haven't forgotten what it was like to be a third grader like you. I remember what I loved most about school (reading and doing projects); what I despised (the teacher calling me "Dinah" on the first day instead of "Dina"); and what I wished we had learned more about (science). As a teacher, I still remember and keep these things in mind.
2. I promise I'm not going to steer you wrong. I didn't become a teacher to get bored or be boring, so even if I veer from my original plan, it's because one of you asked an amazing question or planted the seed of a great idea.
3. Learning, I believe, is a lifelong adventure! Some lessons are challenging, and others come easily. The hardest lesson I had to learn growing up is that learning, in fact, is not supposed to be easy, and that making mistakes is a natural part of the process. Being "perfect" at something can be a sign of needing a new learning challenge.
So please trust that we are here to learn and be successful, even if something is more challenging than you expected!