Welcome to
Torrey Hills School
Welcome to
Torrey Hills School
Embedded Files
Torrey Hills School
Attended UCSB and have taught 4th, 5th and 6th grades.
Multiple Subject Teacher with over 27 years of teaching experience.
Email: swilken@dmusd.org
School Phone: 858-481-4266 Extension 3708
Teaching Philosophy
Teaching Philosophy
As a fifth grade teacher I am a co-learner, mentor, coach, and community navigator and connector. I want to develop engaged young learners that are active inquirers, problem finders/initiators, problem solvers, collaborators, and empathetic community members. To move towards developing these type of learners I aim to create student centered learning experiences that push students to explore their own critical thinking through using visible thinking routines. I use thinking routines that encourage each student to move their thinking forward in new and exciting ways that will deepen their understanding and build connections to our diverse classroom community and the greater world around them. Our classroom is a place to build connections, ask questions, actively participate in our learning, be a part of team of thinkers and a place to ignite curiosity and ask big questions that drive our learning. We put kindness at the heart of what we do in fifth grade and we try to work alongside our students to create learning environment where we each feel we belong.
Mr. Wilken's Google ClassrGoogle Classroom - 2026/2027 oom
Link to Class Link
Life Outside of the Hawk's Nest
Life Outside of the Hawk's Nest
I am a second generation native San Diegan. My parents still live and reside in San Diego. I am father first and foremost, and enjoy spending time with my own children outside of school when they aren't too busy with their adult lives. Both are former Torrey Hills Hawks, and they both have fond memories of attending our school. I love the outdoors from fishing to hiking/camping and riding my road bike to spending time on the water -surfing/sailing/swimming. I try to get movement afterschool. I enjoy listening to all types of music and have been known to attend concerts and performing arts in my free time away from our school. I also love cheering on the San Diego Padres or San Diego State Aztecs after school, watching college football or basketball, I have often contributed to community by serving as a coach in youth sports or through volunteering locally. I love to travel and you can often find me in a National Park during summer time. I live in Del Mar/Torrey Pines and really enjoy my time living near the ocean and you might even find me down on one of our beautiful beaches on the weekends taking a hike or in the water. I try to find moments of "awe" in each day and create the same moments of awe alongside my students.
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