Hudson 2010's top teacher at Lord Baltimore

Sherri Hudson was recently named Lord Baltimore Elementary School’s Teacher of the year. Hudson, a third-grade teacher at LB, has been at the school for seven years. Prior to that, she taught first grade for three years at Phillip Showell Elementary School and for three years at Georgetown Elementary.

Coastal Point • Submitted
Sherri Hudson poses with her third-grade class at Lord Baltimore Elementary School.

Hudson said she used to think first grade was ideal because of the growth that happens that year, but she has since changed her mind.

“In first, you see a lot of growth,” she explained. “They go from not writing or reading anything to writing complete paragraphs and reading. For third grade, I was scared of the DSTP [state testing], but I actually like third better. They are more independent, and they can work by themselves.”

“We do math and readings games,” shared student Dominic Patille.

“It’s hands-on, and she makes it a lot more fun,” said Sarah Roehl.

Hudson didn’t always want to be an educator. She started out college with a major in interior design but thought teaching would be a better fit for living in this area. She eventually transferred her credits to Salisbury University halfway through college and graduated with an elementary-education degree. She went on to get her master’s degree in educational leadership.

In third grade, she explained, students are refining their reading skills and working with multiplication, subtraction, division, volume and mass in math, plus learning about soils for science, and, of course, they still learn cursive writing.

“They can’t wait,” she explained, laughing.

The students could hardly contain their excitement in talking about all the fun things they do in third grade with Hudson.

“It’s more active,” said Nicholas Digirolamo, adding that Hudson makes it seem as if it isn’t even learning because it is so fun. The students also described the benefit of “hands-on” learning.

“We do folding fractions,” said Luke Morgan. Patille said that actually means they “fold” the paper to see what one-third or one-half is.

“She explains things more thoroughly,” said Roehl. “We do group activities and it’s hands-on.”

“Everything we do with Mrs. Hudson is really fun,” concluded Patille.

The students said Hudson is also deserving of Teacher of the Year because she lets them work in groups and check each other’s work and they get to do word prompts, and be as creative as they want.

As for being named LB Teacher of the Year, Hudson said she is “honored,” although she is not a person to draw attention to herself, in her words.

“You don’t just have one person critiquing you, but seven,” she said, of the observation process for the award. She added that she was excited, as is her class. “This is by far the best class I have ever had,’ she said. “For it to take place with them is very exciting.”

Hudson noted that she has plenty of parental support and involvement, and the kids want to learn. They enjoy the hands-on aspect of working with the Smartboards and are currently learning about cities, and they will soon work with someone from the Center for the Inland Bays to learn about soil types.

“Anything hands-on… They love working in groups, and working together they can learn something and learn something from each other.”