My name is Ellie Smith (Eleanor K. Smith) and I am a retired special education teacher, currently living in the Front Range of Colorado. My thirty-plus year career in special education includes teaching in Texas, Florida, and Maryland.
After I retired, I planned to devote all of my time to my passion for crafts (making jewelry, sewing, quilting, knitting, scrapbooking…) but found that I couldn’t walk away from my love of education.
I became involved with using authentic projects to teach during my tenure in Maryland. I am passionate about using authentic projects (often referred to as project based learning). Even more passionate than I realized, as I wrote two books about our journey using authentic teaching with my former (and forever) principal, Peggy Pastor. Our second award-winning book, One School’s Journey: Further Down the Path by Eleanor K. Smith and Margaret Pastor is available on Amazon.
I have also published six award-winning children’s books in my Tex the Explorer series, by Ellie Smith. All are available on Amazon. This includes the book that I am the most proud of, Tex the Explorer and The Jared Box Project, also available on Amazon. These books were illustrated by a former student of mine, an amazing and talented young man, Eyen Johnson.
The purpose of this blog is to feature ideas for teaching and parenting. It is a work in progress and feedback is much appreciated!
~Ellie Smith
The Educational Journey 