Dear Families,

Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year.  We are thrilled to be in our newly renovated space. It looks beautiful. We have been working non-stop since school opened for us to be ready for your kiddos to come and learn. The teamwork and dedication it has taken to accomplish this goal just exemplifies why Norris is such a special place.  Our theme this year is #it'sanorristhing. Teaching about character, ROAR and Peace lessons, we will be practicing our theme throughout the year.

We will be welcoming 22 students to our classroom this year. We have 8 first graders, 7 second graders and 7 third graders. I am so excited to get to see everyone and meet our new younger friends. We are going to have a great school year.

This is my 15th year teaching Primary Montessori at Norris Elementary School.  My favorite part of teaching is being able to establish strong relationships with my students and their families over 3 years.  Montessori is a perfect place to find a home away from home.  They are my kiddos when they enter my classroom and I am so lucky that you are willing to share your child with me.

When I am not teaching I love spending time with my own family.  I have a husband named Jon and two daughters named Norah and Ayla as well as our newest addition, Benjamin.  We love to go on adventures together as a family.  This summer we were able to spend time at our house, the swimming pool, zoo, state parks and many other places.  We visited friends in Iowa City and my sister in Houston. We went to the Space Center and loved every second.  Norah will be a second grader at Norris this year and Ayla will be in the Montessori Pre-K program.  I love having my children here at Norris because I know they are surrounded by some of the most supportive, caring and wonderful people I know.

Cultural: In Montessori Cultural is the cornerstone of Montessori.  We begin the year learning about the 5 Great Lessons.

Math: All math in Montessori begins with a concrete representation and then will move to the abstract concept.  Math consists of math concepts, math facts, math operations and geometry.  We begin math by learning about the History of Mathematics. Many math groups are differentiated based on different ability levels.

Language: We use many multi-sensory materials and symbols to help the student make a hand to brain connection to the language goals they are learning.  Our focus in language includes, word study, grammar, language mechanics, spelling and writing.

Reading Groups: We begin small group reading lessons after reading groups are differentiated.  Reading groups consist of comprehension, phonics and phonemic awareness lessons.

Reading Concepts: Focused concepts are discussed and practice in both whole group, small group and individual settings.