About Mrs. Clark

Hello friends and families, and welcome to our fourth grade classroom website.  My name is Linn Clark and I am a fourth grade teacher at Northbridge Elementary School, located in Whitinsville, Massachusetts.  I graduated from University of Massachusetts with a bachelors degree in Elementary Education. I have two masters degrees; a Technology in Education Masters from Lesley College and an Administrative Leadership Masters from Worcester State. I love to spend time with my husband, beautiful daughter Alison,  our dog Tundra, and our cats Pumpkin + Kit Kat (domestic shelter rescue cats).  I love children and I truly enjoy my profession.

As a teacher, I believe it is important to establish a professional relationship with parents and be a valuable resource for them. I hope to create a true home-school connection. I strive to create a positive learning environment which motivates students to take risks, share ideas, and acquire knowledge. I encourage student choice and empowerment. I try my best to make learning fun and challenging by using a variety of instructional models and strategies. I also individualize instruction to meet the diverse needs and interests of my students. 

Furthermore, I strongly believe that linking the curriculum to real life experiences motivates children to learn, thus I integrate content in all areas and make use of a variety of resources, Internet being one of them.  One of my initial goals, as a teacher, is to establish a behavior management plan which encourages respect for different learning styles and preferences. I love the curiosity and energy of young children, and I am committed to my profession. I am also determined to design and implement lessons which motivates children to become lifelong learners and that help to develop thinking skills.

One of my main goals in the classroom is to maintain my enthusiasm and energy towards learning and teaching. I look forward to growing each year as my students and skills change. I aim to excel professionally by sharing ideas with other teachers and administrators, as well as by attending workshops and taking classes, I hope to continue to enroll in technology courses so that I can further incorporate technology my lessons, and throughout my website. I am constantly searching for new ideas and innovative teaching strategies, which actively engage each of my students in learning.

Why I Teach

I always wanted to become a teacher for as long as I can remember. I had some outstanding teachers I remembered with great fondness. My parents and in-laws taught me the deepest, most fundamental lessons about education, about striving for excellence and searching for answers, about perseverance and curiosity, and about believing I could overcome all obstacles in the quest for my dreams. I decided to work toward the goal of becoming an educator and giving children the best foundation possible for a successful life.

Being a parent made me realize the importance of serving as a role model for my child, and it made me believe that adults can and should strive to make a positive difference in children’s lives. Quality parenting and quality teaching both hone skills in recognizing and respecting individual differences, communication effectively, engaging in creative problem-solving, and discovering ways to excite and motivate children to excel. More important, they allow us to give children the support and guidance they need to become self-confident, capable people.

My goal as a teacher will be to help children learn how to learn, to understand that they have the power to search for and discover the answers to their questions. Empowering children to believe in themselves and encouraging them to set high standards along with developing a solid work ethic, will be essential components of my teaching.

Additionally, I understand and accept the fact that I will be expected to serve as a role model for my students. I will model behavior and attitudes that reflect my lifelong commitment to learning. That commitment includes furthering my own knowledge base through continued classes at the graduate level, enhancing my teaching skills, and modeling positive behaviors.

Being a teacher today requires more that just serving as a role model or having the knowledge and expertise to plan, implement, and assess effective lessons. Today’s teachers must have an awareness of the deeper issues children encounter in their lives outside the classroom, and they must be willing to provide the support and stability children so desperately need.

Teachers and parents can work together to the mutual benefit of children. As a teacher, I will strive to bring parents into that process as much as possible by keeping them informed, inviting their participation, and letting them know of resources that can tap to enhance their child’s classroom education.  Communication is vital, and as a teacher I will make two-way communication with parents as essential component of my efforts on behalf of their children.

Parenting has given me a deep and abiding respect for those within the teaching profession who have made a commitment to improving children’s lives. 

Classroom Goals:

1. To teach and to be taught.

2.  To motivate students.

3. To involve and communicate with parents.

4. To have contagious enthusiasm and humor .

5. To instill empathy and compassion.

6. To help children discover their gifts.

7. To inspire children, help them set goals, and help them achieve them.

8. To learn, discover, and grow in the field of education