Staff Spotlight: Tami Namminga Infusing Plenty into First-Grade Learning
This post is part of the Lynden Schools Staff Spotlight series
First graders in Tami Namminga’s Fisher classroom get to move around and have some fun during the day, but they can also expect to get stretched academically. That’s the way the veteran teacher—and Lynden alum—encourages the students to focus while they learn about academics, life and getting ready to move to second grade.
The Role
This is Namminga’s 24th year teaching and her 17th in Lynden Schools. It’s a full-circle moment for a Lynden native who attended Fisher Elementary and graduated from Lynden High School. After college in Iowa, six years teaching in Colorado Springs and one year teaching in Burlington-Edison, Namminga rejoined the Lynden school community in fall 2009 as a reading intervention specialist. Soon, she was leading her own first-grade classroom, a spot she’s been in now for over a decade.
“My goal is to use time wisely, add enough movement, add enough fun, make it meaningful and engaging, but also stretch each student to learn all they need to learn to be ready for second grade,” she says.
At the start of the school year, Namminga worked with her students to set goals for the year. It’s a mantra the students repeat every morning: “We are here to learn math, reading and more, so we can grow up and get smarter.” Each aspect of that statement has special meaning. Namminga says she especially enjoys first grade because of the emphasis on reading. “Kids grow so much in their reading skills in the first-grade year,” she says.
There’s more than the classic academics. Fisher has three school-wide expectations, including asking students to be safe, be respectful and be responsible. “Character development is woven into our day as we don’t just teach students academics, but we teach them how to solve problems and interact with each other in a positive way,” Namminga says. “I also love creating a sense of community in my classroom each year where the students think of others and take care of each other.”
Getting to Know Tami
The teaching never stops for Namminga. Along with her husband, they have five biological or adopted children ranging in age from 19 to 9. Their oldest is a Lynden High School graduate and the youngest came home from Hong Kong in December and started at Fisher in January. “Supporting them as mom keeps me busy outside of work and their activities keep me connected to the community,” she says.
Along the way, the family is renovating a 1942-built home in Fisher Elementary’s neighborhood. “It gives me a chance to be creative and plan in a different way,” Namminga says, “which has been rewarding as well. We love living in our school’s community where we can see students and families and enjoy local events.”
