About Mrs. Alaina Knapp
Education & Professional Work
I went to undergraduate school at Illinois Wesleyan University where I earned my Bachelors Degree of Music Education in June 2008. After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan, I was hired as a music specialist and chorus director for South Berwyn SD 100 and taught there for 3 years. I earned my Masters degree in Education with an emphasis in Special Education from Walden University in September 2011. I am celebrating my 13th year teaching elementary music. I am greatly looking forward to working with your children this year! I have completed Orff-Schulwerk Training Level 1 with Vandercook College of Music, Completed FAME (Feierabend Association of Music Educators) First Steps in Music certification, am an active member of the Greater Chicago Orff-Schulwerk Association (GCAOSA,) have attended local and national Orff Schulwerk & Kodaly workshops & conferences, am a seesaw ambassador, attended classes on SMARTboard integration, IPads, Garageband, Inclusion, Parent Outreach, Structured Teaching, Google For Educators, MTSS (formerly RTI), and Formative Assessment in the Music Classroom. I am a google Level 1 certified teacher, a SeeSaw Ambassador and Flipgrid fan! In addition to working in District 64, I have 6 years experience working as a music therapist for social programs at the not for profit H.A.V.E Dreams center in Park Ridge. (Helping Autistic Voices Emerge.) I have also worked as an early childhood music educator with Little Jewels learning center in Bloomington, IL. I am currently seeking opportunities to bring early music experiences to the children of Park Ridge. |
Personal
I grew up in Maple Grove, MN which is a suburb of the Twin Cities. I went to Osseo Senior High School and had phenomenal music teachers! They encouraged me to pursue my passion of music and teaching children. I moved to Illinois after college and adopted two dogs- Reese and Guinnie! My hobbies include cooking, DIYing, reading, traveling, photography, biking, swimming and spending time with family and friends! I love to travel! I have travelled to Australia, Cancun, Cozumel, Cabo San Lucas, the Caribbean, Spain, Belize, and New Zealand. My husband and I regularly visit Disney World. We are huge Disney fans! We would love to visit my husband's family in Italy and eventually get to Austria, France and Japan! In March 2017 my son, Daniel, was born. In October 2018 my son Timothy was born. This October, we are expecting a third child, a girl! THANK YOU, PARENTS for sharing your children with us here at school. |