The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1042910
C-12 Wednesday, October 24, 2018 The Press-Dispatch EAST GIBSON NEWS Submit school news: Email: egnews@ pressdispatch.net Deadline: Noon on Friday Wood Memorial By Kenzie Rudolph With parents who al- ways told her to follow her heart, Nicki Caniff did just that when deciding that she wanted to teach English for a living. Caniff's major in college started out as biology, but she quickly realized that it was not for her. "My parents came to IU to take me to dinner, and I blurted out, 'I hate biology. I want to teach English! " said Caniff. Since her parents are both teachers, she assumed that they were typical parents and would want her to be- come more than they did; however, they both encour- aged her to listen to what her heart was telling her to do. Caniff added, "They loved teaching, and I am so glad I switched. I never dread a day of work." She teaches English 11, English 11 AP, English 12 AP and Creative Writing at Wood Memorial High School, and her teaching career started 25 years ago when she started at Castle. A Wood Memorial gradu- ate, Caniff was thrilled to land her dream job in 2007 at her alma mater. Teaching has not always been what Caniff thought it would be. "I remember thinking my first year, 'what have I gotten myself into! '...A fter about two years, that's when I re- alized teaching was so much more than loving your sub- ject. It was really about lov- ing kids and wanting them to be successful in their own ways. Success is differ- ent for every kid. It's not just about grades," added Caniff. She said that her students see her love for literature, grammar and writing, but she truly tries to let all kids know that she cares about them, too. "When kids feel import- ant and know you want them to succeed, it is amaz- ing what they'll do." Caniff calls her students her "day babies," and she is always trying to be on their side, because she is aware that not every kid has someone like that for them at home. When it comes to getting students interested in En- glish, she is not afraid to be silly. "I have different personal- ities. One of their favorites is GG, the Grammar God- dess," said Caniff. She also added that she is not afraid to be emotional, especially when it comes to reading literature, like "The Crucible." "I let them know that even though Shakespeare wrote so many years ago, there is so much today that we got from Bill. Knock knock jokes come from Macbeth! " she said excitedly. When it comes to what high school-aged kids strug- gle with, Caniff said that she hates all of the distractions they have, like social media and Fortnight. She said, "I feel like they grow up so much faster than I did. Most work and want to be adults too soon. I try to tell them to enjoy these years." She added that some come back after starting college to tell her that she was right. Caniff said, "It's not so much that they tell me that, but they come back! My day- time babies come back." Nicki Caniff Caniff followed her heart, ending up at Wood Memorial Guitars in Music Class Fifth grader Jared Stolz practices a new cord on his guitar in music class. Matt Haycraft photo Fifth graders Lily Scrper and Kennedy Jarobe practice together on the new cord of the day in music class. Matt Haycraft photo Fifth graders Jared Stolz, Brayden Bobbitt and Reno Smithhart practice together, in a group, taking turns on the new cord of that day in music class. Matt Haycraft photo Mrs. Like demonstrates the new cord and how to hold it in certain spots vocally and with the guitar in fifth grade music class. Matt Haycraft photo Above left: Student assist each other by holder ther feet down as they do sit-ups for there skills test in PE at Wood Memorial. Matt Haycraft photo Above right: PE teacher Mr. Oxley instructs stu- dents on how to properly and safely work the machin- ery in the weight room. Matt Haycraft photo Left: Wood Memorial students take turns using the weight room machinery in PE. Matt Haycraft photo Right: Mr. Oxley the PE teacher at Wood Memori- al instructs students in the weight room how to prop- erly use the machinery in a safe manner. Matt Hay- craft photo Fifth graders Bailey Schoonover and Paige Moore concentrate on getting the right notes on there guitars in music class. Matt Haycraft photo PE IN THE WEIGHT ROOM AT WOOD MEMORIAL GOT SCHOOL NEWS? Email: egnews@pressdispatch.net