Dear Families, We have had an amazing first week at Seaside! I hope you enjoy the photos from our first week! If you don't see your child in too many pictures, it's because they were too fast for me to catch. I'll have to work on that! Have a wonderful weekend, Mrs. McQuiston
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Can you believe we are starting school in just a few short weeks? I am looking forward to joining the Seaside Community and getting to know all of you!
You will receive a welcome letter from me as well as a time to come and visit our classroom on Thursday, August 13. While you fill out paperwork, your child and I will get to know each other a little better and they can explore our abode! Expect to spend 15-20 minutes and bring any school supplies (if you did not order from SCCS.). I am looking forward to meeting you and your child! If you are unable to attend during your scheduled time, please email me, [email protected] as soon as possible and I will do my best to accommodate. Dear Seaside Community Charter Governing Board,
I want to thank you for granting me the opportunity to visit Steiner College. I experienced significant personal growth from an amazing group of teachers (both facilitators and students.) I knew within the first five minutes of my first lecture that this is where I was meant to be. The intense sessions led me to a feeling of belonging, community and peace. I feel inspired and eager to teach through social education to the imaginative rising fourth graders of Seaside. In fourth grade students are learning to love one another; not in a sentimental way but in a sympathetic and empathetic way. I believe that if children are sympathetic and empathetic towards each other than a much more meaningful level of education can occur. As a teacher it is my job to be a light in a child’s life, but they have their own destiny. A significant and radical change in the child’s relation to the world occurs when the child moves up to the fourth grade. During grade four the students develop a relationship with nature and the relationship of man in nature. The head animals have the capacity to see long distances and into the future. The torso animals are fierce and brave with abundant courage. The limb animals give service and sacrifice themselves. In studying man and animal, children begin to truly learn what it means to selflessly sacrifice. The art of the spoken word is embedded into all areas of learning. I love the idea of rhythms and poems assisting in the learning of language arts, arithmetic, geography, man and animal and so much more. Focusing on the pronunciation of words and rhythm assists students in their own speech as well as spelling. I experienced many Norse, language arts, grammar and animal poems throughout the week. I am eager to teach and perform them with the students. The world of a fourth grader is very fractionated, differentiated and individualized. So, it makes sense that fractions are introduced at this age. For me, it is all about taking away math trauma and teaching math is a way that is accessible. Education is therapeutic and we should treat arithmetic as such. It is important to have experiences before concept and I look forward to cutting many melons, cantaloupes and apples with students! Students may begin to wonder, what does it mean to be here? What does it mean to be in this classroom? In this city? In this state? They begin to be conscious of time and space and where they fit in. The lessons in local geography teach students to describe the land, plants, soil, growing resources and the history of what has happened on the land. Jacksonville has rich history and I feel that students will be motivated to learn and embrace the times past. I am most excited to teach the Norse Myths. The Norse Myths reflect the drama of the fourth grader. The students will be able to relate to the characters’ feelings and relate those back to human and individual life. Students are seeking their own genius, their own destiny. These stories play an important role in their development as the students start to look at the world objectively and more judgmental than ever before. These stories provide the courage and strength for students to grow. Again, I thank you for the opportunity to attend the Art of Teaching at Steiner College. The experience was life changing and I can’t wait to share everything I learned with the fourth grade class. With Warmth, Trudy McQuiston |
AuthorMrs.. McQuiston, fifth grade teacher at Seaside Community Charter School. Archives
December 2016
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