my name is Mrs. Sims

and I will be your teacher!

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For Students:  a little bit about me….

When I was even smaller than you I used to live far away! You see, I was born in South Africa - I will have to show you where that is on the World map when you come to school. I live there until I was just two and a half years old, then my family moved to Canada. We have lived in lots and lots of different houses, so I know it can sometimes be scary coming to school and having to meet new people. Can I tell you a secret though? I just cannot wait to me YOU! I am already so excited to get to know you and learn about all the things you love! One of my favourite things to do is art projects, I am always busy making something or planning what to create next. Maybe you really love animals like I do, then I can show you a picture of my dog, horse and hedgehog! Or maybe you really like other interesting things that you can teach me all about! We are going to have so much fun together learning about all of the wonderful things in the world. I will see you soon!

 

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For Parents:  thank you....

 

Thank you for entrusting me with your beautiful child, I will cherish the time I have with them. Thank you for raising them and for being so involved in their young lives; I look forward to spending the year ahead together. We have so much learning ahead of us and I'm excited to watch your child grow!

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I believe…. That teachers can be thought of as gardeners.

Children come to us with a built in desire to learn and explore; therefore the seed of knowledge is already planted within them. Schools are like the soil, providing the very base on which learning takes place. In addition to the soil, for healthy growth, the environment must have plenty of sunlight, water and shelter from storms. By ensuring there is joy in the classroom (sunlight), sustenance for learning (water) and genuine friendships & understanding (shelter) teachers are able to enhance the climate of the environment. Once the garden begins to flourish on its own, buds and blossoms the gardener can take a step back and keep watch over the beautiful flowers; however, the gardener must always be present in order to remove weeds and to provide fertilizer to ensure the garden continues to thrive. As soon as the garden takes on a life of its own it becomes unstoppable.

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I believe…. The most meaningful education is one that connects various subject areas and to life beyond the school walls.

In a nutshell, Aesthetic Education involves starting and finishing a lesson through the arts. John Dewey (1980) writes, “…to perceive, a beholder must create his own experience.” In my estimation, the arts can be used to create meaningful connections to and between subjects. When art is used to integrate subjects the child is able to experience a holistic education; an education where the curriculum is not taught in disconnected parts, but nurtures a sense of wonder regarding education as a whole. Moreover, as a teacher, I must push myself to think innovatively in order to devise methods and design activities that reach my students in meaningful ways. This can best be done through tailoring centers within the class, inviting guest speakers, planning trips, or designing individual projects for students. Our challenge is to adapt the curriculum in a way that interests students so that we are able to instill a love for learning within each of them.