The field trip to George Jay Elementary School was both authentic and memorable as it gave us a real-life peek into the life of a practicing teacher. Rebecca Bathurst shared a number of ways in which she implements unique philosophies — such as Inquiry-based learning, flexible seating, and the Reggio Emilia approach — into her own teaching.

I loved the layout of her classroom, as it incorporated a lot of student work and it boasted an open, welcoming space for students to learn and explore their interests. I initially wondered how a teacher could conduct an inquiry-based approach to learning with such a young group of students, but Rebecca’s style of teaching goes to show how much of education relies on scaffolding knowledge and that the primary steps of this should be started young.

She showed us her “teaching heart” which emphasizes connected learning, visible learning, seamless tech, celebration, relationships, learner interest, and inquiry-based. I had never seen a teacher make something like this, but it made me consider what might go into my own if I were to make one… Student-Choice? Inclusivity??  I feel like there are too many core values I would want to include as of present, but after a few years of teaching, I think it is a great idea to narrow down a couple of key principles to uphold.