Hi! I'm Karen Youngblom...

I am a Saline resident and a third grade teacher at Woodland Meadows Elementary.

I grew up in St. Peter, MN (just south of Minneapolis), and later married my husband, Scott. We have two great kids; Lucas (a student at Full Sail University north of Orlando, FL) and Abby (grade 12).

Before teaching third grade in Saline I was a Teacher Leader for our district. I was responsible for supporting all teachers in their development of literacy practices in the classroom. I offered in-class modeling and training in reading, writing, and spelling instruction. I also lead dialogue groups which offered all of us time to discuss reading, writing, and spelling issues. Together, our goal was (and will continue to be) to offer the most appropriate literacy instruction for every student. I loved this position because it offered continual learning opportunities, connections with my colleagues, and contact with students.

In addition, I was a Literacy Group Coordinator, responsible for the development and implementation of our Literacy Group Program. Within this pull-out literacy program, we focused on research-based reading instruction for small groups. The goal of this program continues to be to accelerate students' learning so they can meet or exceed grade-level literacy expectations.

I am currently in my 22nd year of teaching. My undergraduate degree from Eastern Michigan is in the area of special education. I taught a self-contained special education classroom in Bedford for six years. In 1993, after obtaining my Master's degree in the area of Learning Disabilities, I became a Teacher Consultant for Saline Area Schools.

A few years later, my passion for improved literacy instruction led me to dig deeper into the research and practices recognized in New Zealand. The next summer, a colleague and I actually spent two and a half weeks in New Zealand schools and came back more excited than ever. I transferred that fall to a first grade classroom so I could implement the philosophy first-hand. In addition, my colleague and I received intensive training from a consultant from New York. What a year! I learned so much!

All these experiences have now led me to the third grade classroom, of which this is my sixth year. This position continues to allow me the opportunity to incorporate all the teaching practices I have developed over the years. I am excited to do just that, and to work with your incredible children!