Classroom Expectations

During our first week of school, the students and I discussed classroom expectations, created a shared agreement, and signed it together. It reads,

"We have integrity.

We are resilient, ready, friendly, helpful, responsible, and respectful."

Additionally, we have class jobs which students rotate through throughout the year: Teacher's Helper, Classroom Maintenance & Community Service.

DON'T FORGET TO FILL OUT THE

Family Survey

Daily Schedule

Class News

Konstella will be used for class announcements and news.

Creating Positive Classroom Culture

Teaching Philosophy

As a teacher, I celebrate every child's innate curiosity, imagination, and self-directed learning. I provide a safe, creative, and engaging environment where children have the freedom to explore and be active participants in connected and meaningful learning. In my classroom, we pursue learning as an adventure.

Children are born curious and self-directed learners. They explore the world around them to learn how to eat, roll over, crawl, play, walk, run, and talk. Their natural imagination allows them to be creative and solve problems. As a teacher, I create an inclusive and creative classroom by allowing students the freedom to lead their learning. I facilitate self-directed learning by providing safety, guidance, and feedback.

What does this look like? My classroom is never perfectly tidy. Various projects are underway in different stages of completion, and the bulletin boards are full of student-gathered information and questions. It looks like we are in the middle of an adventure, which we are - we are learning!

Assessing Student Progress

Assessments need to support self-directed learning.

Informal assessments are ongoing between the teacher and student. The teacher provides guidance, additional support, and tools as needs unfold.

Formal assessments are most useful to self-directed students when the content is applied. Students need to demonstrate that they can apply the skills they are learning. In this classroom, this is most often achieved through project-based assessments, which give students multiple opportunities to demonstrate comprehension. During projects, I can see the students’ understanding firsthand and conference with students to steer corrections.

Self-assessment is a guided reflection that helps students evaluate their learning. Once students know where they are, they can better articulate where they want to be, and together, the teacher and student can make a plan.

Rituals & Traditions

Birthdays: Turning double digits is a major 4th-grade highlight! Each child celebrates by participating in the "Walk Around the Sun" ceremony, once for each year of their life.

Summer Birthdays: Celebrated on the half-birthday (or any day that works for your family).

Parents are invited to write one highlight from each year of your child’s life to be read during the walk around the sun. Treats are welcome but not required. Please coordinate directly with me.

Classroom Timeline: We are building a running classroom timeline throughout the year, starting with student birthdays and adding key historical events, class studies, and discussions.

How to Help: Talk with your child about family stories and history so they can share personal connections with our timeline.

School-Wide Traditions

Morning Line Up - (1st Wednesday) This tradition brings the entire student body together with staff and parents to highlight student learning and announce upcoming events.

PTA Hosted Events - pumpkin decorating, Back to School BBQ, Multi-Cultural Fair, Book Fair, Read-a-thon, and class parties.

May Day - for over 100 years, families have gathered for this town festival. Learn more here.