Welcome to 1D! My name is Crystal and I look forward to a year of laughter and growth alongside all of you, and your children. This site is intended to be a place where you can get to know a little about me as your child’s teacher, be informed on what is happening in our classroom and find ways you can contribute to your child’s learning and personal growth. 

A little about me.

I believe in learning through play, and that school and home are a team in providing your child with a quality education. Together we will navigate this new school year with kindness, compassion and humor. My personal philosophy was developed over a twelve year career working in the Early Childhood sector with children from infancy to age eight. In 2010 I began working as a Kindergarten teacher for the PSB of PEI before making the choice to teach Gr.1. My teaching practices are primarily centered on social emotional development and cultivating an understanding of the world we, as citizens, live in. Two ways I bring joy and learning into our classroom is through reading and art. I love reading! I will often start lessons with a good book, and I’m forever searching for books that provide a good belly laugh for your children. Literature can teach us so much about our world, past and present. And creating art just isn’t about learning our colors! It provides a creative outlet for personal expression, develops muscles needed for fine motor control,and allows us to explore the world's diversity of cultures by learning about the various ways culture is expressed through music, drawing, clothing and dance. 

On a personal note, I’m a sucker for a good quote. My favorite one as of late is by Henry Adams — “A teacher affects eternity; they can never tell where their influence stops.” And my personal favorite, “I’m a mistake maker and a mistake fixer!” This was said by me, and is said numerous times a day in the classroom. Celebrate the mistakes! It’s how we know we're learning. I’m a big fan of dogs and cats, really, anything with legs makes my list. I enjoy cooking new foods, and I’m especially fond of soup. I’m not a baker but I have a great love of bread and dark chocolate. I am a mother to two children who are now adults building lives of their own. My mom heart is proud of their adventures and full of wonder for what is yet to come. 

Kindly,

Crystal