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About Walden Wonders
Introducing Myself & My Teaching Experience Hi! My name is Mary Ann Walden. I'm a Christian educator of 33 years, 27 years in various combinations of PreK - Grade 10, having taught one-room schools for eleven years. Yes, that's all eight grades in one room, just like early American schools. Mental whiplash all day long! But, oh, the memories... The last six years of my teaching career, I had the great pleasure of training future Christian educators at a private college in Arkansas. The most satisfying job I've ever had! Some of those Christian educators are now in cities, states, and countries all around the world. Praise God! |
My degrees include:
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The "Birth" of Walden Wonders:
Several years ago, I was downsized out of the classroom. We hadn't been in that location long; we had purchased a home we loved and joined a nurturing and loving church; we didn't want to move. "OK, Lord," I wondered, "What should I do now?" God impressed me to professionally work up some of the items I had created for my own classroom and market them. The business name incorporates my last name and my wondering - Walden Wonders.
And the rest, as they say, is history... And the history continues even today in my retirement years; God is still giving me ideas to work up that can benefit His dear children.
- BS in elementary education from Southern University in Collegedale, TN
- MS in elementary education with an emphasis on curriculum design from Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, CA
- PMT (That's "Put Myself Through" - with a whole lot of help from our Lord!) As a single parent of three pre-teens, this was no small feat, but God led and blessed all the way. The bookstore actually had a PMT diploma for the student to fill out and sign themselves. I figured I could celebrate in that small way, so I did. I know, I'm goofy sometimes.
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The "Birth" of Walden Wonders:
Several years ago, I was downsized out of the classroom. We hadn't been in that location long; we had purchased a home we loved and joined a nurturing and loving church; we didn't want to move. "OK, Lord," I wondered, "What should I do now?" God impressed me to professionally work up some of the items I had created for my own classroom and market them. The business name incorporates my last name and my wondering - Walden Wonders.
And the rest, as they say, is history... And the history continues even today in my retirement years; God is still giving me ideas to work up that can benefit His dear children.
The "Growth" of My Teaching Ministry:
At six years of age, after finishing 1st grade, I took my siblings down to the picnic table by the creek on our family farm in Wisconsin and began "teaching" while totally unaware that this would be my lifework.
The following year, in 2nd grade, I actually began my in-the-classroom teaching career. I realized that the 1st graders needed something more to do after completing their work as they were frequently getting into mischief. I asked my teacher if I could teach Art to 1st grade. She chuckled a bit, then caught herself and asked, "Well, Mary Ann, how would you do that?" I outlined my self-designed curriculum to her as, "I would trace a page from my coloring book (Plagiarizing??!! We didn't know the word back then.) and make copies for the 1st graders on the old hectograph machine (an early copy machine, even before spirit duplicators). Then I would teach them to stay in the lines and use appropriate colors - no green faces."
After a time of that, I realized the 1st-grade students still had too much free time on their hands and the teacher was having to call to them from across the room where she was working with the older students in this one-room school of 48 students. Back to the teacher I went. My request this time was that she allow me to teach 1st-grade Spelling. At that time, there was no such curriculum at the 1st-grade level. She chuckled a bit, again, then caught herself and asked how I would do that. "Well, I'd take little words like an, in, at and put other letters with them to make new words. I would give them a list, help them study, then give them a test." Wow! I didn't realize I was making what is known as word families.
At six years of age, after finishing 1st grade, I took my siblings down to the picnic table by the creek on our family farm in Wisconsin and began "teaching" while totally unaware that this would be my lifework.
The following year, in 2nd grade, I actually began my in-the-classroom teaching career. I realized that the 1st graders needed something more to do after completing their work as they were frequently getting into mischief. I asked my teacher if I could teach Art to 1st grade. She chuckled a bit, then caught herself and asked, "Well, Mary Ann, how would you do that?" I outlined my self-designed curriculum to her as, "I would trace a page from my coloring book (Plagiarizing??!! We didn't know the word back then.) and make copies for the 1st graders on the old hectograph machine (an early copy machine, even before spirit duplicators). Then I would teach them to stay in the lines and use appropriate colors - no green faces."
After a time of that, I realized the 1st-grade students still had too much free time on their hands and the teacher was having to call to them from across the room where she was working with the older students in this one-room school of 48 students. Back to the teacher I went. My request this time was that she allow me to teach 1st-grade Spelling. At that time, there was no such curriculum at the 1st-grade level. She chuckled a bit, again, then caught herself and asked how I would do that. "Well, I'd take little words like an, in, at and put other letters with them to make new words. I would give them a list, help them study, then give them a test." Wow! I didn't realize I was making what is known as word families.
So, in 2nd grade, I was teaching both Art and Spelling to 1st grade. It was really pretty smart of the teacher to allow me to do this as she thus kept both 1st and 2nd grade gainfully engaged while she taught the older students. :)
It took many years for me to realize teaching was my calling, but God was finally able to make that plain to me after converting me. Finally, I was ready to work for Him. Praise the Lord; I can't think of a more rewarding profession than Christian education.
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Here's My Passion:
Whether used in a classroom or in the homeschool environment, I want every resource I create to enable the student to enjoy learning, find that learning is easier and more interesting than they may have thought, and fall head over heels in love with God. I pray daily for every person who has seen my seminars, webinar class, or any other material God has caused me to create that they will see the true character of our Creator God and grow closer and closer to Him in recognition and appreciation of Him and loving faithfulness to Him. I sincerely hope to meet each of them in heaven.
It took many years for me to realize teaching was my calling, but God was finally able to make that plain to me after converting me. Finally, I was ready to work for Him. Praise the Lord; I can't think of a more rewarding profession than Christian education.
~ ~ ~ !~ ~
Here's My Passion:
Whether used in a classroom or in the homeschool environment, I want every resource I create to enable the student to enjoy learning, find that learning is easier and more interesting than they may have thought, and fall head over heels in love with God. I pray daily for every person who has seen my seminars, webinar class, or any other material God has caused me to create that they will see the true character of our Creator God and grow closer and closer to Him in recognition and appreciation of Him and loving faithfulness to Him. I sincerely hope to meet each of them in heaven.
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These days I sell my Christian educational products to homeschool families and others in person, online, and at various markets.
Crafting is one of my hobbies as you can see in this photo. I have always enjoyed learning how things are made. That's why school field trips were so interesting to me. I try out virtually every type of craft I come across - just to see how it goes. Afterward, not needing all these items, I sometimes gift them to family and/or friends, or I sell them. There were jean purses, Christmas ornaments, small box tote bags, fabric bags, quilted wall hangings, and other craft items for sale in my booth at this market.
I keep busy, have fun, and try to bless others with whatever I do.
These days I sell my Christian educational products to homeschool families and others in person, online, and at various markets.
Crafting is one of my hobbies as you can see in this photo. I have always enjoyed learning how things are made. That's why school field trips were so interesting to me. I try out virtually every type of craft I come across - just to see how it goes. Afterward, not needing all these items, I sometimes gift them to family and/or friends, or I sell them. There were jean purses, Christmas ornaments, small box tote bags, fabric bags, quilted wall hangings, and other craft items for sale in my booth at this market.
I keep busy, have fun, and try to bless others with whatever I do.
