Second Grade
Taunya James
Second Grade Teacher
Ms. James' Favorite Quote
“Be proud of the incredible person that you are… and become a rainbow in someone’s cloudy day"
~Nyki Mack
Years and Education
- This is my 29th year teaching
- 17 years in Weber School District
- 8 years in Calvert County, Maryland
- 3 years in Las Cruces, New Mexico
- M.ed. Special Education, Multicultural Education
- New Mexico State University
- B.A. Elementary Education, History and Criminology
- Metropolitan State University
License and Endorsements
- Utah Professional Educator License - Level 2
- Early Childhood Education (PK-2)
- Elementary Education (1-8)
- Special Education (K-12+)
- Endorsements
- ESL for English Language Learners
- Elementary STEM
- Special Education - Mild/Moderate Disabilities
- Special Education - Severe Disabilities
- LETRS Science of Reading
Grades Taught
- Second Grade
- First Grade
- Special Education - Self-Contained
- Kindergarten through Fifth
- Behavioral Development
- Special Education - Moderate Program
- Third through Sixth
- Learning Disabilities
Previous Schools
- Orchard Springs Elementary
- Riverdale Elementary
- MarLon Hills Elementary
- Dowell Elementary, Maryland
- Alameda Elementary, New Mexico
The Best Part of My Job
- Showing students that learning can be fun
- Building relationships with my students and watching them learn and grow
- Going to work every day; it’s never the same, never dull
- Experiencing that moment when a student learns something new
- Helping students learn their way, not one way
- Hearing the students’ excitement and laughter throughout the day
My Favorites
- Dr. Pepper Zero or Dr. Pepper Coconut
- Coffee
- Food from around the world
- All animals, wild and domestic
- Camping
- Anything in nature
- All colors - I can never pick one!
- Heated seats and auto starts in the winter
For Fun
- Read, Read, Read
- Taking care of my critters
- Traveling anywhere
- Camping and hiking
- Kayaking and river rafting
- Photography
- Sailing in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
- Going to cultural events and exchanges
- Riding my tricycle. Yep, I have a tricycle!
- 4 wheeling, off-roading, RZR riding
- Tinkering with technology
- Creating anything
Random Facts
- I can’t live without my electric toothbrush
- Some say I’m a geek and I think that’s the best compliment
- I talk to all animals even if they won’t talk back
- Star Trek is my favorite series…yep, I’m a groupie
- I have strange pets
- My organization system makes sense to me and no one else
- I rarely go to the movie theater
- Spinach toast and chicken pot pie are my comfort foods
- Potato chips belong IN the PB&J sandwich, not as a side
Favorite Books
- The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
- Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard
- A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin
- The BFG by Roald Dahl
- Eragon by Christopher Paolini
- The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
- The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith
- And so many more!
Places I Have Lived
- Born in El Paso, Texas
- Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks, California
- Denver, Colorado
- Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Drum Point, Maryland
- Now I’m Here!