September 16, 2004

Teacher of the Month: Lynn Adams
Los Alamitos Elementary School

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

With sparkling eyes, a ready smile, and an understanding heart, it’s evident that Lynn Adams truly enjoys teaching, and her passion for learning is reflected in the enthusiasm of her students at Los Alamitos Elementary School.

Adams, whose greatest joy is watching a child discover something new, bestows a sense of wonder and curiosity in her students, making the ordinary extraordinary. “I like to see that lightbulb go on in their heads,” she expresses.

For Adams, teaching comes naturally, and has been a lifelong ambition. Even as a child, she enjoyed learning, and at the tender age of 4, she knew she wanted to be a teacher. “I love to learn, and to help children see that learning is a lifelong experience,” attests Adams. “My parents instilled that in me, and when I played with my friends, we played cowboys and Indians, dolls, and dressed up the dogs, but we played school all the time, too.”

Since the elementary school she attended in the Midwest did not believe in homework, Adams completed her private-schooled friends’ homework instead. “They didn’t want to do it, and I did, so I helped them,” she laughs.

She also devoted a large portion of her time to reading. “My parents always made books available for me and took me to the library,” she recalls. Her father, a university professor, and her mother, a medical professional, led by example and were an inspiration for Adams. “Both of them loved to learn. I always saw them reading,” she notes. “They had that joy that they could transfer.”

Initially raised in Indiana, Adams later moved to California with her family, and received a bachelor of arts degree in English and a master’s in teaching reading from California State University at Northridge. Her teaching experience spans 17 years in the public sector, including almost 10 in the San Jose Unified School District, (and five at Los Alamitos). Her husband, Lawson, is an accountant, and they have two children, Ruthanne and Robert.

To the delight of her mother and the students alike, Ruthanne has assisted in the classroom for the past five years, but will soon be off to college.

Adams has taught just about every elementary school grade, and liked them all. “It’s the children,” she enthuses.

“They change from year to year. You get them at different stages of their life and you help them to the next stage.” Although she enjoys teaching reading and writing, math is what captivates her. “Math is enjoyable because there are so many different ways to reach the desired outcome,” she contends. Adams makes a point of illustrating for her students how in math, as well as in all areas of life, there are a variety of ways to solve problems and navigate from point A to B. “They can explain how they chose to do it, and we can see things through different eyes—and that’s what the world’s about—relationships,” she maintains. “When we can see the world through other people’s eyes, we can help and appreciate one another.”

A devoted teacher, Adams stays the whole day during Los Alamitos’ annual walk-a-thons and walked 14-17 miles last year. She takes turns walking laps with her students, holding their hands, and cheering them on from the sidelines, all the while encouraging them to do their best. Using an innovative approach, she teaches addition and subtraction math facts through an animated game of Around the World in which the children advance around the classroom by solving math equations.

Adams views herself as part of a team that contributes to each child’s success. “It takes the child, parent, teacher, and the staff all working together to help a student reach his or her highest potential,” she says. “The teacher is the parent away from home—that also makes the last day of school the hardest day of the year. When I have to say goodbye to the class, I tell the kids they’re going to see happy and sad tears because they’re moving on. It’s like being a perpetual parent. You prepare your children for that next stage in their lives and then you watch them from a distance as they soar to greater heights.”

She strives to develop each student’s abilities while imparting in them the joy of learning. “They’ll never run out of new things to learn, because the whole world is full of them,” she observes. Adams’ students appreciate her dedication. Adams was nominated for Teacher of the Month by Annie Abay, one of her second grade students from last year.

“Annie is a wonderful child,” says Adams. “She always has a smile on her face, and it’s in her heart, too. She has a wonderful vocabulary and is always excited about something, and likes to talk about it. She’s the kind of child who makes your day because she wants to learn as much as she can, and assimilates it with what she already knows. She’s a very cheerful and loving child. When you’ve been hugged by Annie, you have been hugged inside and out.”

Although Adams works 10-hour days, and still brings her work home with her, she can not imagine doing anything except teaching. “It’s just so rewarding,” she explains. “Every day I get to go and work with 20 of God’s most wonderful creations and help them build up and on their strengths. I can’t think of a greater profession on earth.”

My Teacher, Mrs. Adams

Mrs. Adams is my second grade teacher. She teaches us about history, math, language, and maps. She also does lots of fun things with us. For example, she ran with me at walk-a-thon, and she plays Around the World with us.

Mrs. Adams has long blonde hair and has a beautiful face and a beautiful smile. Mrs. Adams is married and she has two children that are named Ruthanne and Robert. Mrs. Adams likes it when we do the best we can and get our work finished. She buys lots of books for us to read so that we will have a habit of reading. She encourages us to do great work and compliments us when we do a great job. She’s always happy to see us and so am I. She loves and treats everybody in the class equal. Mrs. Adams is a very nice and caring teacher. I love her and I wish that she could be my teacher forever.

—By Annie Abay

Could your teacher be the next Almaden Times Teacher of the Month?
The Almaden Times Weekly is accepting essays from students honoring the special teachers in their lives. We will make every effort to acknowledge every teacher and every essay which is sent in. Send us a short (maximum 300-word essay) on your teacher and how they have affected your life. This can be a past or present teacher.

Teachers can be an elementary, middle or high school teacher who teaches at a school within the 95120 or 95118 zip codes. E-mail the essay to julie@timesmediainc.com or fax the essay to (408) 494-7078. The editorial staff will choose an essay each month. The student’s essay will appear in the paper and the student will receive a gift certificate to McDonald’s. The teacher will be featured in the paper and receive a gift certificate to Pure Bliss Day Spa and Amato’s Pizzeria. Be sure to include your name, phone number, address and school at the end of your essay.