Byron Center — In Kinsey Bykerk’s whimsically decorated classroom, her second-graders sit in a variety of seats under strands of twinkle lights, surrounded by books and inspirational posters.
Kneeling on a large square cushion at a low-to-the-ground table, second-grader Kaitlyn Habeeb explained why her teacher, Ms. Bykerk, lets them choose their own seats.
“Because she’s a good teacher,” she declared.
Kaitlyn’s tablemates chimed in on the conversation with reasons why they love their teacher.
“She’s so smart,” Alexa Palacios said.
Victoria Muniz added: “She’s really nice and generous, and she helps me learn math.”
Another student agreed.
“She is kind and she gives me candy sometimes,” he said.
A Likely Career
One of 12 children, Bykerk grew up in West Michigan, surrounded — and sometimes even stepped on — by her nine younger siblings.
She said it might have been obvious to some that she would pursue education, given her experience with kids. But after graduating from South Christian High School to attend college at Ferris State University, she admitted to having “no idea” what she wanted to study.
“I ended up doing my freshman year without a major, and then took the following year off to work at an orphanage and elementary school in Guatemala.” It was there, she said, that “I grew to love being in a school.”
After earning her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Bykerk student-taught sixth-grade math, science and ELA in Grandville Public Schools, and spent a year as a long-term sixth-grade substitute teacher in the district. She started teaching at Marshall in 2019 and has been with second-graders ever since.
“You see so much growth in second grade,” she said. “They become so much more independent.”
Bykerk’s fellow second-grade teachers at Marshall, Kayleigh VanderKamp and Kristen Claeys, both said they feel lucky to work alongside her.
“Kinsey is always thinking of creative ways to challenge kids and get them excited about learning,” VanderKamp said. “I love that she is so passionate about ensuring that her classroom is a welcoming place for all students.”
Claeys added: “Kinsey is a thoughtful collaborator and a great listener, and I continue to learn so much from her. Her students are truly fortunate to have her, and it has been a privilege for me to work alongside her and also call her a friend.”
Be Happy, Do Something You Love
Every Monday afternoon, Bykerk introduces her students to an influential person through a picture book or video, coupled with a writing activity. She also finds posters with quotes from individuals such as Anne Frank, Stephen Hawking and Mr. Rogers on Teachers Pay Teachers to hang in her room after each lesson.
She called reading books together a classroom community builder, and said it is “a great gateway into imagination and conversations.”
During a recent lesson on animal scientist and autism activist Temple Grandin, she told her second-graders:
‘Being able to connect and see kids for who they are is the only way to be successful in this field.’
— second-grade teacher Kinsey Bykerk
“One of my favorite things about teaching is getting to teach you about people who weren’t born with any superpowers; they saw problems in the world and in their communities and used their strengths to solve them.”
The volume in the room rose as second-graders chatted about takeaways from “The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin” by Julia Finley Mosca.
“She was teased and mocked, but she didn’t give up and stayed tall,” Kaitlyn said.
The lessons for Stella Bronson: “Always be yourself, and everyone is special in different ways.”
Bykerk told her students she hoped they would remember those lessons from Grandin in their own lives, now and in the future.
“There are so many different jobs in the world where you can use art or science to follow your dreams,” she said. “You tend to be happy when you find something you love doing.”
Seven years into her teaching career, Bykerk continues to thrive in the classroom by building connections with her students.
“If you’re looking to go into education, you really need the ability to make connections with students of all sorts of backgrounds and life experiences,” she said.
“We live in a very diverse world and serve such a variety of students. Being able to connect and see kids for who they are is the only way to be successful in this field.”
Read more from Byron Center:
• Second-graders make supply to meet demand at Market Day
• Actors reflect on history’s lessons, speaking out
