Author Archives: Julie Rust

Authored by Rachel Scott This year has been quite a change of pace in the Makerspace and PBL world at the Lower School. Not only are students engaging in a more integrated approach in the classrooms, 1st through 4th grade students are also spending scheduled time in the Makerspace workshop each week. Throughout the year,Continue reading “Little Makers in the Makerspace: Focus on 4th Grade”

I admit it. I used to assign those teaching philosophy statements to my poor undergraduates. I can’t quite count the number of times I talked students through how problematic “gardening” metaphors were, as in: “I believe that children are like seeds and my job is to nourish and water them so that they grow intoContinue reading “A Case for Educational Philosophy: On Mirrors, Windows, and North Stars”

I have shared extensively about my myriad failures and falling shorts with my senior English class.  This is because I am honest to a fault, and I am that peculiar brand of person that both hates not being perfect and learns a lot when I make space for my imperfection.  But let me act outContinue reading “This One Thing I Know: Cultivating Communities of Writers”

Okay, let me run two scenarios by you: Scenario 1: Over two weeks ago in class I gave students this very clear, scaffolded assignment sheet and timeline for their literary analysis paper.  We worked on chunks (thesis, evidence building, drafting) in class.  Yesterday was our peer review day in which they were asked to bringContinue reading “Much Ado About Deadlines”

If you are anything like me, you are in no way facing a dearth of ideas for teaching.  There are so many things to cover! There are so many WAYS to cover them! I just learned how to turn any old boring worksheet into Capture the Flag! Thanks, Teacher Tik Tok! (Yes, I did justContinue reading “End of Quarter 1: A Time to Reflect”

It was just a few weeks ago, at about 4:20pm on a Wednesday. I ran into Matt Luter in our collective dash to the post-PD-time parking lot.   I blurted out my predominant feeling at the time: “That was TERRIFYING!”  Any story involving blood, unconsciousness, emergency medical situations gets my heart going.  I am not inContinue reading “We Learned More than CPR: Lessons about Teaching Gleaned from Our PD Training in September”

I’ve already shown off the wrist  x-ray that signifies my past summer of “oh yeah you are middle aged, not a figure skater.” You know, this one: (Good news side note: the x ray was clean. It was just nerve damage!) But there’s a part two to that story.  Several weeks past the injury, IContinue reading “Why Asking for Help is a Superpower”

Authored by Hannah Williams-Inman As teachers, we’ve probably all had moments where students were just maybe a little too honest with us. Maybe it’s our “course evaluation” survey, and the teenagers see it as an opportunity to air their grievances, or maybe it’s when we found out that Sally’s “mommy said a no-no word,” andContinue reading “If Only You Knew, Part 1”

Authored by Jessica Parker-Farris I’m on a personal mission to find joy! While on my journey, however, I’ve noticed that rather than being kind to myself, I often torment myself for my lack of perfection in all things. This caused me to ponder both the literal and possible unconscious semantics of one word I useContinue reading “Jazz Steps: Dancing into the Joyful Unknown”

Authored by Taylor Davis When I taught kindergarten I truly had no idea how much time a three year old teacher spent in the bathroom…really no idea! I continue to find myself uttering phrases that few adults have ever strung together. “Get the beads out of your nose. You have blue energy but you needContinue reading “A Glimpse into Early Childhood: ECC SPOTLIGHT #1”

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again.  The magic of our school is all wrapped up in the magic of the humans that are here. Hey, here are some cool humans: Taylor Davis (PK3), Jessica Parker-Farris (Lower School Art), Hannah Williams-Inman (Middle School Spanish), and Matt Luter (Upper School English). What could theyContinue reading “Introducing . . . TEAM, 2023-2024!”

It is quiet. It is loud. Hours ago, we were smiling and shaking hands at meet-the-teacher like half-trained politicians. We laughed too loud, had myriad awkward social situations. (I almost tripped Andy. ) Children rushed about on orientation scavenger hunts and colleagues huddled around copy machines like cold warriors around a fire in the darkeningContinue reading “4:48 PM, First-Day-of-School-Eve”

This post was authored by David Kelly. What does authentic student centered learning look like in the performing arts? Theatre is amazing because it can be completely centered on the student experience and bring out a range of perspectives. This is at the heart of learning at St. Andrew’s: student centered and authentic learning.  ImagineContinue reading “Using AI (Authentic Intelligence) in Youth Theatre: Elementary Summer Camp ‘23 Arts Blog”

Authored by Michelle Portera It’s almost here! Fun, exciting, leisurely times ahead, a break from being pulled in all directions. Maybe there are plans to travel, or plans to read that stack of books on the nightstand. It’s a hopeful time.  And yet.  As much as I resist it, the sudden slow down in paceContinue reading “Patterns”

Authored by Kim Sewell I wish you this summer… Waking up to birds chirping instead of an alarm buzzingNovels to get lost inDrool-induced naps on couches and hammocksNandy’s candy’s snowballs with creamMany dips in a cool poolFood off a grillFresh cut flowers A ‘getaway’ whether a quick weekend or a week-long tripA fun new hobbyLighting bugsContinue reading “A Benediction”

Is this blog blast about the ends of things or the beginnings of things? Is this season a bit like being on the landline phone with your high school boyfriend in the 1990’s in that extended mating dance of trying to say goodnight but wanting to have the last word of “I love you more”?Continue reading “Summer Send-off: A Mash Up of Goodbyes and Hellos”

Authored by Mary B. Sellers Here I go quoting Rumi again, but we all have those teachers we circle back to, don’t we? Rumi is one of those teachers for me. Another is (are) children. I started paying attention differently this year, and it’s amazing just how many of my students’ daily trials and triumphsContinue reading “The Wound is the Place Where the Light Enters You”

Authored by Buck Cooper. In 1960, The New Yorker published what I believe to be one of the most beautiful pieces of baseball writing ever written, John Updike’s Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu. If you have a soul, which means you probably love baseball, but even if you don’t (love baseball), which means your ensoulednessContinue reading “Kid Bids Hub Fans Adieu”

Are you the kind of skeptic that’s been around enough that every time an administrator launches a new “initiative” you’re like “okay I’ll just hang on a month or year and it will be gone by then anyway.” Well if you felt that way about the blog THE JOKE’S ON YOU BECAUSE SHE’S BEEN GOINGContinue reading “Blasts from the Past: Did you Know our Blog will Turn 4 This September?!”

Running in the sprinkler.  Ice cream trucks.  Slower morning starts.  Late night fun. Bug spray, sunscreen, and entire days at the pool.  Beach reads.  Taking a breath and re-setting for the upcoming year.   When you say the word “summer” to most faculty members at St. Andrew’s, many many things come to mind.  But forContinue reading “The Many Faces of Summer: Featuring Foundations!”