In Tammie Boone's first-grade classroom at Cairo Elementary, 24 energetic students start their day with journal writing. Each morning, they complete a prompt on the board, encouraging them to express themselves through writing—sounding out words and constructing sentences to the best of their abilities.

"They're like a blank slate when they come to me," says Boone, who has been teaching at Cairo for six years and has 18 years of teaching experience overall. "At first, they don't know how to put letters together to form words. By the end of the year, they're reading books and excited about learning."

That transformation from non-reader to reader is what drives Boone's passion for teaching first grade. With a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Harding University and a master's in special education from Murray State University, Boone brings a wealth of knowledge to her classroom.

"I love teaching young children," Boone explains. "They get excited about everything you do in teaching. They get upset when their hand doesn't get called upon. They all want a turn to share and to learn."

A typical day in Boone's classroom is carefully structured to maximize learning while keeping young minds engaged. After morning journal writing and attendance, students attend their first special activity—music, art, or PE. Then comes the reading block, where they learn phonics and blend words using their new reading series.

Learning stations follow, where students engage with educational materials in fun ways. "They might have beads and laces with ABCs on them to make words, or Lego blocks to build words," Boone explains. "We make it fun so they're able to move and get their energy out, but also keep learning."

After lunch and recess, students attend their second special class before diving into math. First graders work on adding and subtracting up to 20, learning shapes, equal shares, counting to 120, and number patterns. The day concludes with science or social studies activities.

With 24 students—"a lot of little bodies with big personalities"—classroom management is essential. Rather than raising her voice, Boone uses "callbacks" to regain attention: "Class, class" (students respond "Yes, yes"), or "If you can hear me, clap once, clap twice."

Social-emotional learning is integrated throughout the day. Cairo Elementary uses the "7 Mindsets" program, which incorporates stories and discussions about social awareness. Classroom rules promote kindness and a safe learning environment.

"When there's an issue, we try to address it right then," says Boone. "We can share our personal needs and work things out when needed."

Technology plays a significant role in Boone's classroom. Each student has access to a Chromebook for educational programs like IXL and Starfall Education. During recent snow days, students connected with Boone via Google Meet for virtual learning.

When asked what she wants parents to know, Boone emphasizes the importance of reading: "Learning to read is the most important thing you can do in first grade. It's the basis of everything that happens later in life. If parents can help their children enjoy learning to read, it will go so much farther across their whole life educationally."

She also wants parents to know how much she cares: "I love each one of their children. They're all unique and different, and I want them to be successful in school and in life."

With all the resources she needs at her disposal and the enthusiasm she brings to teaching, Boone says she's in her "happy place" now. That passion translates to her students, who eagerly absorb knowledge and skills that will serve as their educational foundation for years to come.