Classroom Conversations: Ms. Mishra and Kehlani
Formerly our State St. campus’s 5th Grade ELA and Social Studies teacher (and so fantastic at it she won the staff-elected “Elementary School Rookie of the Year” title), Ms. Roma Mishra is now teaching 2nd Grade Math and Science. As such, she now gets to instruct fellow math-lover Kehlani.
The Huddle joined the duo in their homeroom, Metro — affectionately named after Mishra’s alma mater, Metropolitan State University of Denver — as they finished preparing their questions for one another. During their conversation, the Staters discuss goals, learning, and what it means to “GROW OUR TEAM” at United.
This is part four of a series of Classroom Conversations featuring network-voted award-winning staff. Check out previous features with our Most Dedicated Bulldog, Dynamic Duo, and Rookie of the Year.
The Huddle: Can you please introduce yourselves?
Ms. Mishra: My name is Roma Mishra! I've been at this school for two years. I teach second-grade math and science, and I picked Kehlani to interview today because she represents our GROW OUR TEAM values.
Kehlani: My name is Kehlani, and I’m in second grade!
The Huddle: Can you remind me, what are GROW OUR TEAM values?
Ms. Mishra, pointing to a sign above the whiteboard: So, the “GROW” stands for grow, resilience, optimism, wonder! And then “TEAM” represents teamwork, empathy, achievement, and mission.
The Huddle to Kehlani: And you embody all of those values? That's pretty impressive! [Ms. Mishra nods proudly.]
Kehlani: How long have you been a teacher?
Ms. Mishra: I’ve been a teacher for four years in total, but I’ve taught at this school for two years! As you remember, I was the fifth-grade teacher and, this year, I teach you guys. I really like teaching you guys, so I'm glad I made the change!
Kehlani: What’s your favorite thing about second grade?
Ms. Mishra: My favorite thing about second grade, first of all, is teaching math. Then, everyone in my classroom! So everyone in Metro, everyone in LSU — every time I walk in, you guys are so funny, and you make me laugh, and I just enjoy it!
Ms. Mishra: What are you most proud of this year? It can be anything!
Kehlani: I’m proud of how we get points!
Ms. Mishra: All the points you've gotten? Yeah, I'd be proud of that, too! You get a lot of points.
Kehlani: What’s your favorite thing about our school?
Ms. Mishra: My favorite thing about our school is getting to teach scholars who are always so motivated to come into the classroom, take challenges, learn, and grow our brains! That's my favorite part: a scholar like you!
Ms. Mishra: What’s your favorite subject right now? What do you like to do?
Kehlani, immediately: Math!
Ms. Mishra, laughing: You love math?! Yay! I love math, too! Why do you like math?
Kehlani: It’s easy and fun! It has easy equations.
Ms. Mishra: Nice! What’s your favorite thing we’ve done this year? It can be in math, science, or anything in second grade.
Kehlani: ELA is fun because we do new stuff, and we get to do some worksheets. And math is fun because we do math stuff!
Ms. Mishra: Yeah, and math is fun!
Ms. Mishra: What do you like to do after school?
Kehlani: Play with my baby brother!
Ms. Mishra: So, you have a baby brother. Do you have two brothers?
Kehlani: Three brothers! I also like to go to my Titi’s house! Yesterday, we had a party for my cousin who was turning 2 years old!
Ms. Mishra: Oh, wow! That’s fun.
Kehlani: What do you like to do outside of school?
Ms. Mishra: Outside of school, I like to hang out with my family! I like to watch TV. If it's a long break, like winter break or summer break, I like to travel and go to different countries and different states, so I can try new things and do new things! I find that very fun.
Kehlani: Well, you did go to Florida for something [recently]?
Ms. Mishra: Yes, that was for a PD [professional development]! It was a teacher’s PD, so I went to Florida to learn how to be a better teacher!
Kehlani: What’s your favorite book?
Ms. Mishra: My favorite book for adults, like grown-ups, is called Verity by Colleen Hoover. For younger audiences, like you, I would say I like all the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series — those are always funny!
Kehlani: I have one inside my desk right now!
Ms. Mishra: Yeah, I know! What's your favorite book?
Kehlani: Dog Man!
Ms. Mishra gestures to the classroom library: Oh, Dog Man! Yes, I have some [from the series] here, too.
Kehlani: I have them at home, and I read them when my phone dies or when I get bored!
Ms. Mishra: That's a good choice!
Ms. Mishra: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Kehlani: A gymnastics coach!
Ms. Mishra: A gymnastics coach? Nice! What do you think you have to do right now in order to be successful with that goal?
Kehlani: Go to college and learn more!
Ms. Mishra: Go to college, do homework, get good grades — that’s right! Which you already have done!
Kehlani: What do you hope for all of us students this year?
Ms. Mishra: My goal for all of our second graders this year is for you all to move to third grade! Although I love having all of you here, I know that you did such a good job as a student when you can go to the next grade level, right? That means you learned, and you proved it by getting really good grades. I want to see you next year — you'll still be in the building, but you'll be older!
Kehlani: When do we go to third grade?
Ms. Mishra: We have a few more months of school now, and, then, we have a summer break. When you come back from summer break in August, you'll be a third grader. So in about, what, eight months? Eight-nine months!
Kehlani: My birthday is March 1st, so I'm going to be eight [when I go to 3rd grade]!
The Huddle: So, what is something you both appreciate about one another?
Ms. Mishra: I love that Kehlani is such a star student. She is always participating and a role model to her younger siblings and everyone else in the classroom. She is never afraid to speak her mind and just wants to do her very best no matter what.
Kehlani: I don’t really know, I just like everything [about her]! She likes to teach us, and she's funny!
The Huddle: Finally, if you could say one thing to the United community supporting you, what would you say?
Kehlani: Thank you because I love books!
Ms. Mishra: I would also say thank you. We truly and greatly appreciate everything they do for us and our scholars.
Kehlani, grinning and pointing at the classroom library: We got a ton of books over there!
At the end of their interview, Ms. Mishra and Kehlani decided that the best place to take their photo together was in the classroom’s corner library, overflowing with the books that Kehlani so adores.
Thank you again to this wonderful pair for taking the time to chat with The Huddle and one another to showcase the brilliant minds, growth, and learning taking place in our network every day. Connection is a hallmark of United culture, and this is a glimpse into the dialogues that define our campuses.
