NAME:
Mrs. R. Helfrick
SCHOOL:
Dawson Elementary School
CLASS:
4th Grade (4H)
I graduated from Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI with a degree in
Elementary Education and Psychology. I completed my student teaching in an
educationally diverse second grade classroom in New Bedford, MA. Upon
graduation, I worked in Dawson Elementary School as a long-term substitute
in the fourth grade for six months. At this time I gained valuable
experience and insight, which has helped to strengthen my knowledge of
education and enabled me to apply what I have learned over the years to a
variety of students with different backgrounds, interests, and learning
styles. I am now a fifth year teacher in the Wachusett Regional School
District and am excited to embark on this new journey with your students! It
should be an exciting year as we investigate many new areas of science,
geography, reading, and writing!
It is my mission as an educator to instill within students the desire to be
lifelong learners, who do not live vicariously through the experiences of
others, but go out and actively inquire, investigate,and continue to develop
and grow with each new seed of knowledge they acquire. This motivation to
learn starts in a classroom devoted to the success of the students. It is
imperative for students to feel comfortable and accepted by their teacher, as
well as their peers. This is accomplished by creating a positive classroom
community geared toward student interests, needs, and abilities. Teachers
must engage the students using open communication to determine prior
knowledge, learning styles, and the most effective ways to motivate students
to be active in the classroom.