There is a quote that says, “If you have a child’s heart, you have a child’s mind,” and Ms. Allie Fain, a kindergarten teacher for Nan Gray Davis Elementary, strives to embody it.
“I have grown to love this quote because it emphasizes the importance of building relationships with students. I want my students to first know that I love and believe in them, so they will always love and believe in themselves,” Ms. Fain shared. “I try to greet every child that walks by, or into, my classroom every morning by name and with a hug. Whether they are my student or not, I want them to know they are loved and their name matters before beginning their day.”
Ms. Fain has been teaching for seven years. She graduated from the University of South Alabama in 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in K-6 Elementary Education. Then, in May of this year, she graduated with her Master’s in Elementary Education from the University of West Alabama. After kicking off her career in the first-grade classroom, she moved to teaching kindergarten two years later and loves it.
“I love having the opportunity to instill a love for learning in young students. I like to say they are like little sponges at this age, and it is so fun to watch them soak in all of the knowledge they can,” Ms. Fain said. “My favorite part of teaching young students is seeing that light bulb go off for them. Most come into kindergarten knowing maybe a few letter names and then leave as readers, and that is so rewarding to watch.”
Cultivating a classroom that creates a safe space for her students and also engages them in their curriculum is a priority for Ms. Fain. Describing her teaching style as hands-on and “on the go”, allows her to keep young minds engaged through interactive learning games, number talks, and opportunities that include a lot of play-based learning.
“Teaching kindergarten, I spend just as much time teaching them social skills as I do teaching them foundational reading and math skills,” explained Ms. Faine. “I try to teach them the importance of treating everyone the way they want to be treated — whether that be cleaning up after themselves and others to help out our custodians or lunch staff, offering words of encouragement to a classmate if they’re having a hard day, or just simply having a positive attitude for themselves as well as others. I try to teach students that they should always choose kindness.”
Allison (Allie) Fain enjoys spending time with her family and friends when she is not teaching. She also enjoys watching sports and going to the beach. One of her favorite things is to try new restaurants or try out fun, community events in Mobile.
