Grade 3-Bio

I believe integrating subjects strengthens students’ depth of knowledge. I utilize hands on projects and nature-inspired Science labs to give students some autonomy over his or her work as well as make the topic more meaningful. This year, for example, when studying Native Americans, we read-non fiction texts, illustrated picture books, and wrote mini reports about various tribes. Then, we researched the ways American Natives celebrate their Catholic faith today, and created Tabernacles in the from of teepees as an art project. While doing so, we listed to Native American music. This is a typical way of how I each a unit, merging many subjects such as ELA, Social Studies, Art, and Religion for one topic. As an Art History major as an undergrad, I use my love of art to help teach specially about the history of the Catholic Church, its saints, doctrines, and and traditions. I am of the opinion that students today spend too much time on screens, so my classroom is mostly computer-free, and instead we focus on reading lots of books, writing lots of paragraph, and work on of creative in-class projects. I am a big believer in memorization as a skill, so in third grade, we memorize many Catholic prayers as well as recite poems in our annual poetry party. Classroom responsibility is important and our homeroom has students “jobs” including etiquette coach and class comedian. Most important to my philosophy of teaching is the need for children to feel loved and valued as an individual, and made aware that he or is made in the image and likeness of God.