"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning"
-Fred Rogers
"Knowledge is Power." -Francis Bacon
"Success breeds motivation" -The Reading League
Welcome to kindergarten!
These three quotes guide my teaching philosophy. Students should be active in their learning. Our classroom will have a hum of learning throughout the day. Students will ask questions, get messy, and have fun. I want students to be excited to come to school each day and tired when they go home. I believe a strong education full of vast knowledge is key to helping students in their life ahead. The more you know, the more places you can go. Lastly, as students approach personal challenges and succeed they will be motivated to keep learning and growing. In kindergarten, we are truly building upon the foundation set at home to ensure a marvelous educational voyager. Let the adventure begin.
Please note that this website contains general information about our class. It includes our class schedule, reading calendars, and monthly book reports. Student grades can be found on Aspire. Detailed information on assignments, projects, newsletters, etc. will be emailed out and posted on our Canvas website. Please make sure you have access to these websites and sign up for notifications.
About me
My name is Rachel Smith. I have worked in the education field for over 20 years. I have taught preschool, kindergarten (my favorite), 1st grade, and gifted/talented classes. I have also served as a literacy coach and a curriculum director during my career. My happy place is being in the classroom with my wonderful students. I love helping them develop their curiosity and fall in love with learning. I hold a master's of education in educational psychology and a bachelor of science in early childhood education. I am a certified level 2 Utah Early Childhood teacher with a level 2 reading endorsement.
I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and am the youngest of 5 children. I have loved calling Utah home. It is a great place to explore the outdoors and have adventures. My husband and I have two wonderful daughters who we adore to pieces. We love to bike together, explore different parks, visit the library, and play in our yard.
Resources
Student sites
Parent sites