By BECKY CRISSMAN

becky.crissman@gaflnews.com

CORDELE — Almost any adult today can tell you that at one time or another growing up they played house, doctor, school, or something else to that effect. Nikki Ransom is no different. She fondly recalled playing school with childhood friends.

“For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a teacher. My mother and sister-in-law are both teachers and I have aunts that are teachers. It is kind of a family thing.”

Ransom grew up in the city of Unadilla in Dooly County. She is the only daughter of David and Karen Ransom. She attended school at Fullington Academy where she began testing the water as a teacher by tutoring other students.

“At Fullington there were two options; You could take P.E. or become a tutor. I opted to be a tutor because I liked teaching better.”

After graduating from Fullington Academy in 1998, she enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus with a major in early childhood education.

“I know some people change their major at least once, but mine was set in stone the day I enrolled.”

Ransom went on to achieve her bachelors degree in 2003 and her master’s in 2006. She has just entered her sixth year at A.S. Clark Elementary School where, she did her practicum in college. She has taught third, fourth, and fifth grade students on all levels of learning from inclusion to gifted. Ransom teaches a wide variety of skills to her students including; Story elements, cause and effect, and plot. She also puts a lot of emphasis on comprehension.

“A child can read something over and over and it will not have any real impact unless they understand the meaning of what they are reading.”

In the society we live in today video games and text messaging have began to take front seat to a lot of things, even education. In order to hold the attention of her students Ransom feels it is important to be active with them.

“I seldom do worksheets and things like that. The kids enjoy doing what we call ‘centers’. They are sometimes split into groups between myself and co-teacher Amy McCree.”

Ransom says that when activity calls for the children to be in the floor she is right down there with them. She seldom uses worksheets because the interaction with the children is better. It helps nurture their learning because you can hone in on a child’s individual needs and give them better understanding.

“You should never give up on a child; even if they have discipline problems or difficulty learning.”