Introduction:

I first began work in education as a Swim Instructor, Day Camp Counselor, and Outdoor Educator.  After focusing on a pure Science degree in college, I realized that what I really wanted to do was work with kids, so I pursued a career in Environmental Education.  The obvious first route to attaining this goal was to become a certified teacher. This set me on a path of professional and personal development and evolution of philosophy of learning and teaching.

Evolution = Change Over Time

Science Education:

It was my goal as a new Science educator to have my students engaged and involved in the classroom setting by providing multiple hands-on experiences and laboratory activities.  Kids loved being out of their seats and working with actual materials and rather than just reading about scientific concepts, actually experiencing scientific phenomena.

I learned that in order to provide the most authentic and meaningful educational experiences meant that I, as the Teacher, needed to step back and no longer become the Provider of Knowledge but, rather become the facilitator and co-learner along with my students.  Through Inquiry-Based learning and teaching, I developed further to become a teacher who walked alongside the children I worked with and became a listener and observer as much as an imparter of knowledge. 

I saw students’ understanding develop in much deeper ways when they themselves became the Inquirer, Developer, and Observer. This became my focus as I worked in the science classroom as well as the outdoor classroom.

Reading Curriculum and Instruction:

Reading intervention has been an interest of mine as I watched the children in my Early Childhood classes develop early literacy skills and become readers and writers.  I have since studied the various philosophies and techniques of teaching reading in my goal to become a Reading Specialist.

Through my own experiences of teaching early reading as well as through exposure to the concepts of the “Science of Reading”, I have developed a very definite concept of how good readers and writers develop and in what ways we as teachers, can support them.

I use systematic phonics instruction along with rich literature, and direct writing instruction to help children along the pathway to become fluent readers, comprehenders, and writers.  Comprehension is supported through vocabulary development and authentic life experiences.  Fluency is developed through supported practice and examples of fluent reading.  My goal in reading intervention is to help children along the path of literacy so that they can enjoy reading and writing as well as to become proficient at it so that these foundational skills will allow them greater access to all school subjects and life concepts.

Services offered:

Willow Wind is a company owned and operated by Kendyl Warren, a teacher with over 30 years’ experience in public and private classroom teaching and individual student intervention. 

Kendyl offers educational consulting in Classroom and Behavior Management for educators and parents.  Assessment and intervention services are offered in the areas of Reading, Executive Function skills, and Adaptive Behavior.  Outdoor Education experiences are available for classrooms, schools, and homeschooling families.

Kendyl is certified by the State of Nevada in the following subjects:

• Biological Science –  Grades 7-12
• Elementary   –  All Subjects
• Early Childhood – Special Education
• Reading Specialist

Kendyl received her Bachelor of Science degree from Utah State University and started on a path of Environmental Education that led to her early career in Science Education.  She branched out further into Early Childhood Special Education and developed a particular interest in Sensory Integration. Kendyl taught Middle School Science in Churchill County, Nevada for many years as well as teaching in the Middle Years Program at an International Baccalaureate World School in Suzhou, China for two years.

While raising her own three children, she obtained an endorsement in Early Childhood special Education and taught children with developmental delays for twelve years.  She has been trained in many behavior interventions and alternative communication methods such as the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) as well as Sheltered Instruction for English Language Learners.

   She recently completed a Master’s of Education in Reading Curriculum and Instruction at University of Nevada-Reno and has been offering reading intervention at the local elementary school.  Kendyl also assists the local library with summer reading STEAM programs and Story Time. She also assists with Outdoor Education activities locally.