An Interview with Maureen Grubar

Editor's note: Maureen Grubar has been a tutor at Our Lady of Victory School for over 15 years.

Can you tell us about yourself?

I was born and raised on a farm in the state of Nebraska, having attended grade school at St. Wenceslaus Catholic School. I took professional teacher training in my last two years of high school under an instructor whom I admired very much. After high school, I attended Wayne State Teacher’s College, receiving an associate degree in Education. Afterwards, I taught in a rural elementary school in Colfax County, NE. In the first year, I taught grades K–11, and in the following year, grades 1–12. I then relocated to Lincoln, NE where I attended a business school. Later on, I worked at Lincoln Police Department for ten years. I relocated to Minneapolis, MN and spent ten years in a public relations department.  After a few years, my husband and our children moved to Post Falls, ID. I taught at Immaculate Conception Academy for eighteen years, and I am presently a tutor for Our Lady of Victory School for the last fifteen years.

Why did you become a teacher?

My parents paid for my schooling to go to Wayne State Teacher’s College. My mother was a teacher, and she wanted me to be one as well.

Did you have a role model you admire or a patron saint you intercede to for teaching?

I admired the person who taught me my normal and professional training in high school. I still use her training, the way she taught me or things that she taught me as far as discipline, handling a class, and presenting materials. She was very instrumental in helping me choose teaching as my profession.

Also, Our Lady is my patron saint, and I go to her often and ask her for help.

Do you have a specific teaching motto or philosophy?

No, but I work hard, and I give my all to every teaching job I have ever held. Teaching is not an easy job as it requires much patience and dedication.

Do you have a favorite subject to teach? Why?

Grammar! I have always enjoyed teaching grammar. Grammatical skills are very important in everyday writing and conversation, as well as in all subjects studied in school.

Are there differences in teaching in a classroom and homeschooling for you?

In homeschooling, I reassess my expectations of what students will say in their assignments, because I am not in the classroom with them.

What is the most rewarding part of teaching?

Because I teach 5th and 7th graders, I can see the accomplishments students are making from the 5th grade to the 7th grade. My reward is to see the progress they have made from the beginning of the school year until the end.

How does this role as an educator help you in other areas in life?

It helped me as a mother because I was very determined that my children would do their homework and do well in their studies. Being a teacher, I realized the importance of - not necessarily getting good grades - but doing their work and doing the best that they can. I often say on my progress reports that all Our Lord expects of students is to do the best that they can do.

Do you have tips for homeschooling parents?

Be organized and have a time schedule, stick to it and not deviate from the plan. They need to have an idea of what they will do each day with each child in each grade. No interruptions, however, I know that’s impossible at times, but they should try their very best.

Do you have advice for students?

Keep up with homework. Do not do all of one subject and then go on to the next one. When they are just concentrating on one subject, they have forgotten part of it at the end of the year and will have to relearn the subject by the time they get to the next grade. They have to constantly review the materials learned. Otherwise, what they have learned will leave them. And oh, spelling is crucial; good spelling is necessary. The use of the dictionary is very important and it should be available to them at all times. Also, there should be no distractions, which include mobile devices of any kind, while they are doing their work.