This post was created on 08/06/2024.

Courtney Burkett, a Behavior and Academic teacher at James Marlowe Elementary, has been teaching for over 13 years. She has taken her love of educating and creativity outside the classroom. Mrs. Burkett has published two children's books geared toward the primary grade levels in elementary education.

Her stories are geared towards building stronger relationships and conversations between students and their parents, guardians, as well as their teachers. These books are meant to help students who have low self-esteem issues in learning, differentiation in learning, and behavior in the classroom. Her third book due late fall 2024 is about teaching students at a young age about having more meaningful conversations that help them learn empathy especially towards adults.

The stories are not geographic or demographic specific so that children anywhere can relate to the story. The stories have been sold worldwide and even read to students in their classrooms from the United Kingdom. Since 2020, Mrs. Burkett starts the school year talking to students (kindergarten through second grade) about these topics and helps parents have these conversations at home by sending copies of her books.

These stories help guide them to have meaningful conversation in regards to learning differences in reading, writing, and math, as well as behavior within themselves and how to respond to those who have frustrations themselves. Her books are easily accessible through major retailers national and international.

Stories are a great way to strength learning concepts and social skills. It's easier to help young minds visualize what the conversation in truly about with ways to be successful. If you are interesting in learning more or want to reach out, you can call James Marlowe Elementary School at 727-774-8600, or check out Courtney's website at www.courtneyburkett.org.