“Thanks for putting your vision into positive action. You have created a school where children truly thrive!”
- Bartels
“The teachers have a beautiful way of recognizing and honoring the unique beauty of God’s creation in each child. We appreciate the way they help our child to learn to read, write and think!”
–Mac Ryerse, Corporate Secretary for Potlach Corporation
1st-4th Grade
Teacher: Natalie McKenna, BA in Elementry Education
Teacher/Child Ratio: 1:12
Maximum Class Size: 12
Ages of Children: 6-10 years
Personal Background: I taught Kindergarten through 2nd grade at Cougar Mountain Academy for 6 years in Issaquah, WA. 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 a lot about running an exceptional private school. North Wall is so in line with my educational values and experience, that I am honored to be teaching here and working with the students and their numerous unique gifts. This is my fourth year of teaching at North Wall. I am also working on my Masters Degree at Whitworth specializing in Gifted and Talented education.
Philosophy of Teaching: My objective is to provide a safe educational environment where individual strengths are the focus and different learning styles are recognized. We will provide the opportunities for learning 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 they are allowed to guide choices in their leaning 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:
- To keep the love of learning alive and nurtured in each child
- To promote independent learning
- To help students gain success in self-discipline
- To help students recognize their own strengths and interests
- To promote respect of self, others and our environment
- To provide developmentally appropriate, interesting,
- and challenging activities
- To provide a positive educational experience
Class Schedule:
9:00 - Morning Meeting
(Morning News, Calendar, Introduction Activity, Introduction to Learning Centers)
9:30 - Literacy Block + Morning Snack
(Individual Reading Instruction & Themed Learning Centers: Literacy, Math, Science, Art, Computer, Writing, Listening & Social Studies)
10:20 - Clean Up + Project Sharing
10:30 – Physical Education
10:45 – Continuation of learning centers
11:15 – Quiet reading & wash hands/prayer
11:30 - Lunch
12:00 - Recess
12:30 – Afternoon meeting (Thursday walking field trip)
12:45 – Learning centers and snack
2:00 – PE
2:30 – Journal Writing
3:00 - Closing