Authored by Taylor Davis.
About 17 years ago I was lucky enough to land a job at this place. This place where I grew up, all my friends grew up and I knew one day my children would attend. My first year I was surrounded by so many of my former teachers and even a few of my dear friends’ parents! So here I was going on my fourth year of teaching where my former teachers were now my…colleagues?? Can you imagine?!
So here I was feeling so grateful for the opportunity but also feeling a bit…out of my depth…to say the least. I was very lucky to land a job here, but I think back to that time and realize the real luck was being paired with my wonderful mentor… Robyn “Robbie”(as I refer to her) Touchstone.
I began my journey at St. Andrew’s in first grade and as an elementary student, I always wished that I had spent my preschool years in that magical little building (current Discovery Center). I remember seeing pictures of my classmates in large Easter Bonnets made from paper Mache and tissue Paper Flowers. I fondly remember visiting a room and seeing the lofts and wonderful little nooks and crannies that had been designed with such intentionality for play. Above all, I remember how fondly my classmates spoke about these preschool years.
When I began teaching at SA, the Kindergarten had moved to the Foundations Building. The classroom I was assigned was my middle school choir room…what a trip. Storage was minimal but it felt like a lovely little room. There was nothing “traditionally classroom” looking about the space. I noticed that the other rooms were similar in size and materials, but all had certain hallmarks of that teacher. All the teachers had their special theme and what fun they all had making it uniquely theirs. I can remember a trip to the dollar store with my mentor. She found black and white check contact paper, “Oh my goodness how great will this look on the backsplash of my housekeeping sink!” Just as a little backstory I worked very hard to have lofts installed into my public school classroom only to be told later that they would be used for computers and not the housekeeping wonderland I had originally envisioned. So here I was hearing my mentor get excited about a toy backsplash and a new pair of satin heels she had found at goodwill for the dress up center. If you haven’t taught preschool this paragraph may not yet make sense…well let me spell it out. The MAGIC is in the DETAILS. That is what I saw each and every day of that first year. All these wonderful special touches that were so much more than just the set out curriculum. They were all the little things that draw a child in, that make a room feel more cozy and safe, that spark imagination and creativity. It is those extra touches that make this place special.
I only stayed in kindergarten for one year but all those little touches really struck a chord with me. To this day I still visit Robbie’s room during work week and look for inspiration. Her classroom is truly an idyllic place. It is colorful and beautiful. Around every corner there is a little special touch inviting children in.
My little girl Mary Manning was lucky enough to spend a year with Ms. Touchstone..
It was the year after Covid year and my little extrovert/spot of sunshine had really struggled during all those months at home. That kindergarten year was a welcome respite full of fun and exploration. She remembers fondly all the wonderful art that was created in Ms. Touchstone’s class. Robbie’s room is set up for an artist to shine. On her walls a Miriam Weems painting hangs and some of her own wonderful creations.
There are examples of color study all over the room. She places items in windows to reflect different colors in the room. Ribbons hang from the ceiling and art supplies are readily available
Ms. Touchstone attributes many of her bits of sparkle to the teachers who taught her how to be an SA teacher. Candy Coker along with several well known SA names Sally Caffery and Mary Jane Lambert began what all St. Andrew’s students know about… THE Fairy Tale Tea Party. It began as an English Tea Party and as the curriculum grew and evolved so did their biggest event. Yes, some years it has gotten a bit out of control…but really don’t all great parties get a bit out of hand! I remember the year I was in Kindergarten the parents constructed an actual Beanstalk in my classroom. The team spends so much time on this wonderful unit. The art, literature and even teaching materials produce the most wonderful conversations. Castles are brought down from the attic and props are brought in for storytelling fun.
All of this to say there are really too many tiny magical details to list. I have honed in on all the aesthetic details but it is so much more than that…the way Robyn teaches is like an extra ruffle to a dress. She has numerous activities, games and songs up her sleeve. If you are lucky enough to walk in a K classroom with new shoes…they will serenade you with the new shoes song. If you shine in front of a crowd on Friday there might be a talent show on the stage. Her students are her priority in everything she does and it truly shows in her teaching. A hallmark of any independent school is this freedom to truly teach to the children and not at the children. We are able to modify and adjust based on the needs and feelings of each individual child. It is in these adjustments and in these details that true teaching begins. The outcome is the joy found in learning and of course…a little bit of magic!
Other “Robbie-isms”…
Always save the scraps of ribbon for gifts…
Never put a baby in a headband….
And my favorite….Is that hurtful – or helpful…