Mrs. Hitchman
Mrs. Hitchman has been a phonics instructor in the Student Services department for fifteen years. She works mainly with K-2nd grade students, as well as helping support 3rd-6th grade teachers in their use of phonograms, spelling rules, morphology, and etymology to teach vocabulary. The annual spelling bee is one of the highlights in her year. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Deaf Education from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, after which she taught K-10th graders in a locked psychiatric unit, followed by public school classroom teaching in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th grades. She earned a Master of Arts in elementary reading with an emphasis in literature from UNC, Greeley. She married an Aussie and moved Down Under for three years, where she taught adult literacy and pre-GED classes. After returning to The States, Mrs. Hitchman attended workshops with Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes and another Orton-based program (closely related to Riggs). She has continued working as a private reading specialist for nineteen years (including English language learners, and students with developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, and autism) and has trained teachers in Orton-based phonetics for eight years. Her three sons and her daughter are all Ridgeview graduates. In her spare time, she enjoys bicycling quiet trails where she can photograph interesting critters and our beautiful state.
Q & A
Where were you born and where have you lived? I was born in Southern California, and have also lived in Maryland, Northern Colorado, and Australia.
Where did you attend university or college? Goucher College and the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley
What kind of reading do you most enjoy doing? Non-fiction and classic literature
What are the small essentials that make life more comfortable? Good music and thrift shops
What are your favorite snacks? Raw almonds and walnuts, and fat bombs! 😊
What do you do to unwind? I love riding my bicycle around lakes, up canyons, and through remote areas, taking pictures of beautiful animals and plants along the way. I enjoy listening to music, walking and talking with my husband, visiting with my four adult children, and especially playing with my grandchildren.
How could a parent volunteer help you most? Join our small groups to listen to kids read one-on-one.