When you think about the students at Hillbrook, what’s the one thing that stands out to you?
When I think of students at Hillbrook I think of their eagerness to learn difficult concepts. For example, we are teaching concepts like counter-claims and persuasion in 3rd grade. These are all things I learned in Middle School. Our students are excited by the challenge of difficult concepts and do a beautiful job of engaging with these topics and producing great work.
What is your favorite unit or project?
I really enjoy reading aloud to the students. They become abnormally still and glued to every word I say. They also have great insights into character development that I would never think of and amazing memories for the smallest details of a text. I also love reading to them because the discussions often turn to connections they are having to their own lives. This lets me see better into my student’s lives.
What made you choose to teach at Hillbrook?
I chose to teach at Hillbrook because of the philosophy of learning through doing. Traditional schools are set up for one type of learner (auditory/visual learners), and I believe Hillbrook is set up for all kinds of learners. Here, everyone has the opportunity to be successful.
What are you most looking forward to at Hillbrook in the next few months?
I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone on the Hillbrook faculty and staff. My goal is to know everyone’s names by the end of the year!
What is the last place you visited?
I moved to Scotland last summer and studied poetry at the University of Edinburgh. In the summer it stays light outside until midnight, so I had a blast exploring the city late at night.
We hope you enjoyed reading Violet’s thoughtful insight into the student experience in her classroom and our school!