Joan Muriel Kalbacken

Background

Joan Kalbacken was born on June 30, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. She is the daughter of Leslie Edwin Formell, a farmer, and Bertha Esther (Andreen) Formell.

Education

In the seventh grade, Joan won a children's writing competition sponsored by the Superior Telegram, a Wisconsin newspaper. In college, she wrote poetry in French and was praised by her French professors.

Joan Kalbacken received from the University of Wisconsin, Madison her Bachelor of Science in 1947. Additionally, she received teaching certificates from Coe College in 1965 and from the University of Toulouse in 1966.

Kalbacken earned from Illinois State University her Master of Arts in 1968 and a supervisory degree in 1984.

Career

Joan Kalbacken is a former teacher of Mathematics and French. In 1947-1948 she was a mathematics teacher at Lincoln Junior High School in Beloit, Wisconsin. Then she was an algebra teacher at Pekin Community High School in Pekin, Illinois from 1958 to 1960. Between 1960 and 1985 Kalbacken was a teacher of mathematics and French and foreign language supervisor at McLean County Unit Five Schools in Normal, Illinois.

Besides, Joan Kalbacken has been the author of children’s books since 1988. Some of her books include "The Menominee", "Peacocks and Peahens", and "Badgers", among others.

Achievements

• Joan Kalbacken is best known as the author of children’s books. She is the recipient of a Distinguished Illinois Author Award from the Illinois Reading Council in 1994 and a Teaching Award of Merit.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Peacocks and Peahens

    (Introduces the various types of peacocks and peahens, sur...)

    1994
  • The Menominee

    (Traces the history of the Menominee Indians, describes th...)

    1994
  • Badgers

    (Describes the physical characteristics and habits of thes...)

    1996
  • White-Tailed Deer

    (Describes the physical characteristics, habits, and habit...)

    1992
  • The Food Pyramid

    (Introduces the food pyramid, describing each level in det...)

    1998
  • Vitamins and Minerals

    (Introduces the major vitamins and minerals found in vario...)

    1998
  • Wetlands

    (Describes various types of wetlands, their ecological imp...)

    1993
  • Food Safety

    (Discusses various health concerns related to the foods we...)

    1998
  • Foxes

    (Describes the physical characteristics and behavior of di...)

    1993
  • Isle Royale National Park 1996
  • Recycling 1991
  • Sheepskin and Morning Star 1996

Membership

Joan Kalbacken has been a member of the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Mathematics from 1965 to 1972, American Association of University Women, American Association of Teachers of French, Delta Kappa Gamma (chairperson of International Educational Foundation since 1992, and State Foundation for Educational Studies since 1994, Phi Delta Kappa (vice-chairperson between 1990 and 1997), Phi Delta Phi (life member), and Kappa Delta Pi.

• Illinois Council on the Teaching of Mathematics , United States

  1965 - 1972

• Phi Delta Kappa , United States

  1990 - 1997

Interests

• rose gardening, crocheting, reading, writing, speaking at schools

Connections

Joan Kalbacken married Norman Merrill Kalbacken on June 19, 1948. The couple had two children: Teryl Kalbacken Engel and Scott Kalbacken.

Father:

Leslie Edwin Formell

Mother:

Bertha Esther (Andreen) Formell

late spouse:

Norman Merrill Kalbacken

Daughter:

Teryl Kalbacken Engel

Son:

Scott Kalbacken

References

• Contemporary Authors New Revision Series