Kristen

Blum

PHONE
(88) 01819231665
EMAIL
kdceci@blumhome.com

SKYPE
kdceci
BLOG
h9p://
kdceci.wordpress.com/

TWITTER
@namastececi

Inquiry-inspired teacher with 9 years experience teaching interna6onally in IB schools.

Currently Grade 5 teacher at Interna6onal School Dhaka. With more than 15 years of
experience with students from rst grade through college, I strongly believe that students
learn best by crea6ng and taking responsibility for their own learning. Through inquiry, they
learn about the world and make connec6ons that make their learning meaningful. I
encourage students to play and to be curious. I try to open up the world to my students by
encouraging them to ask ques6ons, to communicate with people around the world and to
take ac6on that moves their learning beyond the classroom. I believe in a growth-mindset in
myself and my students and am a passionate lifelong learner.

Recent Experience

Interna@onal School Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Grade 5 teacher, 2015-present
Led Primary School MathemaIcs PLN, creaIng stand-alone and integrated planners and
verIcal and horizontal alignment of Math curriculum
Led IB MathemaIcs curriculum review team
Initiated new PYP Exhibition focused on service and student passions
Wrote grants and drove initiative to bring in BYOT and 1-1 laptops into upper elementary
Led teacher workshops for international and local teachers in using technology as a tool,
differentiation, and training using class blogs.
Created new language scope and sequence
Served on board of a local poor school and taught English weekly in a local poor school
Initiated after-school sports activities between local schools and ISD

Yokohama Interna@onal School, Yokohama, Japan

Grade 4 and 5 teacher, 2009-2015
Used inquiry to drive learning
Incorporated a solid and engaged use of technology in 1-1 classroom
Created and led new IBPYP Exhibition focus on passion, personal inquiry and action
Led grade 4 and 5 team to incorporate literature circles, balanced literacy, visible thinking,
cross-grade critical thinking, math collaboration and problem-solving projects
Served on South Asian Collaboration for Growth project, service learning team, new
director and ES principal search team and insurance review team
Wrote successful grants to bring in TCK speakers, physical classroom adaptations
Started ES girls soccer program, elementary magazine and coached MS volleyball
Initiated school-wide service learning through Kiva.org and Charity Water

Elementary School Literacy Coordinator 2010-2013

Writing: Initiated writing planners, developmentally appropriate spelling program, rewrote
language reports, put in place balanced writing program based on First Steps and Lucy
Caulkins. Created Elementary Literacy Wiki.

Reading: Wrote ES reading essential agreements. Analyzed and chose new reading

assessments and materials for ES. Initiated World Read Aloud Day at YIS. Ordered over
$30,000 of good-quality literature and nonfiction, including the start-up of a leveled book
library. Helped YIS enter first Kanto-region Book Bowl, worked closely with librarian to
promote reading across ES, developed reading agreements and expectations.

PHONE
(81)08041402138
EMAIL

Bilkent Lab & Interna@onal School, Ankara, Turkey

Grade 1 teacher, 2007-2009

Co-chaired the schools science fair

kdceci@blumhome.com Initiated 1st all-elementary school read-in daydevoted to reading and book-related
activities and rewrote the schools assessment policy and language policy
SKYPE
Helped bring school to IBPYP certification
kdceci
BLOG
h9p://
kdceci.wordpress.com/

TWITTER
@namastececi

Other Teaching Experience

Grade 5 Teacher, Brier Elementary, Sea9le, Washington, USA (2005-2007)
Instructor, South Sea9le Community College, Sea9le, Washington, USA (1998-1999)
High School English Teacher and Department Chair, Humanex Academy, Lakewood,
Colorado, USA (1994-1997)

Educa@on
Teaching CerIcate, Elementary Ed., Western Washington University (March, 2004)
MFA CreaIve WriIng, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia (May, 1994)
BA, magna cum laude, English/French, DePauw U., Greencastle, Indiana (May, 1989)

Recent Professional Development

RestoraIve JusIce seminar, Dhaka, September 2016
PYP: The Role of Math, Singapore, February 2016
CollaboraIon for Growth Project, South Asia, 2014-2015
Kath Murdoch, Inquiry, Yokohama, October 2014 and February 2013
PYP CreaIng Inclusive Classrooms, Yokohama, Oct. 2014
Learning 2.013, Singapore, Oct. 2013
PYP Concept-Based Learning, Yokohama, Sept. 2013
Leadership Training, Yokohama, April 2013-May 2014
CIS Team Visitor training, Yokohama, April 2013
Bill and Ochan Powell, DierenIaIon and CogniIve Coaching, Yokohama, Feb. 2013
Math through Inquiry, Michael Weimer, Yokohama, January 2013
Making Thinking Visible, Project Zero, Harvard University, Online, December 2012
PYP Reading and WriIng Through Inquiry, Tokyo, November 2012
Learning 2.012, Beijing, October 2012
CollaboraIve Planning in the PYP, Yokohama, October 2011
WriIng Trainer, First Steps, Australia, May 2011
PYP The ExhibiIon, Singapore, September 2010
PYP Making it Happen, Ankara, Turkey, September 2007

Publica@ons/Organiza@ons
Twi9er #pypchat leadership team. Blog author: Solid Ground, Inquire Within and Sharing
PYP PracIce blogs. Author, The Greater Evergreen Area Guide

References
Farhana Bari, Head of Primary, InternaIonal School Dhaka, farhana.bari@isdbd.org
Pam CasIllo, PYP Coordinator, InternaIonal School Dhaka, pamela.casIllo@isdbd.org
Craig Cou9s, Head of School, Yokohama InternaIonal School, cou9sc@yis.ac.jp