SPRING HILL, Fla. — From the morning greeting, Hannah Gordon works hard to make sure her young kindergarten students have fun while learning. 

“Happy Tuesday,” Gordon said with a smile to her class. “We are going to celebrate our summer birthdays. Whose birthday are we celebrating today?”

The class collectively yells, “Max!”

“Excellent,” said Gordon, handing a young boy a paper crown hat to wear. It says “birthday” across the front. 

From the start of her lesson to the end, she uses a variety of techniques to keep her class engaged and involved. Her students move around a lot, which for five- and six-year-olds, is key. 

“The best part of teaching for me has to be those ‘ah-ha’ moments, when the kids just get it,” said Gordon. 

When kids enter kindergarten, some know a lot and some don’t. Gordon takes it all in stride, and was nominated for her motivation to make sure each of her students hit their milestones. 

 “Everybody learns differently,” said Gordon. “We have to be patient and show love, and do the best that we can every day.”

Mixed into all this educational chaos is an emphasis on social, emotional learning. 

“What are you making, ladies?” Gordon asks two girls, while students split off into groups. 

“We are making a beach. You want to play?” the pair asks Gordon. 

“Absolutely,” she said with a smile. “Thanks for inviting me.”

Gordon often encourages social skills, because without them, first grade and up will be much more difficult. 

“I show them love. I make sure that they know they can do this, and even everybody makes mistakes, and that is OK. It’s a beautiful song that we sing all the time,” said Gordon. 

Gordon said she plans to be a kindergarten teacher for the remainder of her teaching career. In the future, she hopes to have children of her own.