K-3rd Grade Teacher:
Natalie McKenna
Personal Background: I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and an Elementary Education Certification from Gonzaga University. I also have endorsements for reading and english in the state of Washington. I have always enjoyed working with children and taught swimming lessons through high school and college. I did my student teaching in the Central Valley School District and then moved to Bellevue shortly after graduating and marrying my husband. In Issaquah, Washington, I taught Kindergarten thru 2nd grade at Cougar Mountain Academy for 6 years. This school is very similar to North Wall in its use of multi-aged classrooms, individualizing curriculum and teaching gifted students. I enjoyed the school so much that I was promoted to Headmaster of the Academy when the owner decided to retire. My five years in administration were extremely valuable and taught me so much about running an exceptional private school. I was very sad to leave when my husband's career then took us to Thousand Oaks, California, but I was lucky enough to become a stay-at-home mom. My heart and my family have always been in Spokane, so when the opportunity to move came up again, we moved "back home". I have been home with both of our sons for the past 9 years, but have always kept my hand in teaching and working with children. I have been everything from a parent volunteer to a substitute teacher in my boys' classrooms. I am also a leader in the AWANA program at a local church. North Wall feels so comfortable and is so in line with my educational values and experience. I am honored to be teaching here and working with students and their numerous unique gifts.
Philosophy of Teaching: My objective is to provide a safe educational environment; one where individual strengths are the focus and different learning styles recognized; an environment where I provide the opportunities, but remain willing to learn as well as teach. I believe that each child is blessed with unique gifts and is created to succeed. I believe that we are entrusted to nurture each child with love, kindness, and respect. When children's unique strengths and interests are recognized, nurtured, and allowed to guide choices in their learning with consistent - developmentally appropriate curriculum, they become independent learners and self managers of behavior. When children have a safe environment where learning takes place from their initiative and explorations, it is a place where we all thrive.
Goals for the Class:
Class Schedule:
| 9:00 - 9:30* | Morning Meeting (Morning News, Calendar, Introduction Activity) |
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| 9:30 - 10:45* | LITERACY BLOCK (Individual Reading Instruction & Themed Learning Centers) | |
| 10:45 – 11:00 | Project Sharing & Clean Up | |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Recess | |
| 11:30 - 12:00 | Lunch | |
| 12:00 - 12:30 | Recess | |
| 12:30 - 12:45 | Read Aloud by Teacher (books connected with theme or chaper books) | |
| 12:45 - 1:00* | LITERACY ACTIVITY (Literacy Skill Intro, Literacy Object Sharing, Interactive Writing, Shared Reading) |
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| 1:00 - 2:00 | MATH BLOCK (Opening Math Activity, Individual Math Instruction & Math Centers) | |
| 2:00 – 2:20 | M & TTH: PE/T,W & F: Whole Group Instruction, Project Sharing | |
| 2:20 – 2:30 | Snack | |
| 2:30 – 3:00 | Journal Writing and Daily Report | |
| AFTER SCHOOL SCHEDULE* | ||
| 3:00 - 3:30 | RECESS | |
| 3:30 - 3:45 | Circle Time, Story and Learning Centers Introduction (Language, Math, Art, Science, Anti-Bias) | |
| 3:45 - 4:15 | Group Time and Learning Centers | |
| 4:15 - 5:00 | Snacks and Learning Centers continued | |
| 5:00 - 5:30 | Children to Multi Age Kindergarten | |