Hello parents and guardians of 7-3 students,
I wanted to take this opportunity to reach out and introduce myself to you all as I begin working with the fantastic students in 7-3.
I appreciate that it is a tumultuous time of the year for students to try and adapt to a new teacher. Between end-of-year celebrations and the upcoming transition to grade 8, the students have a lot to think about. However, my short time with these students has left me with the confidence that they are a resilient and positive group. I look forward to guiding them through the last part of the school year.
I came to teaching via an eclectic background in theater, having worked extensively as an actor, director, producer, and lighting and sound technician with several independent theater companies and larger production companies. After earning a Master's Degree in Teaching (7-12) with First-Class Honors in 2016, I taught English and Theater in my home city of Melbourne before migrating to the United Kingdom. There, I taught both subjects again for three years before moving to Connecticut in late 2020.
My experience includes teaching students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds both in Australia and the United Kingdom, and I enjoy learning from my students as much as I enjoy using my own experiences to help enrich my teaching.
The philosophy that underpins my teaching methods are that students learn best when three conditions are met:
•That they understand not just the content they are learning, but why they are being asked to learn it. I always try to impress upon students the real-world applications of the content and skills we are engaging with.
•That they are set high expectations, and then given sufficient support to help them reach these expectations. I have found that many students doubt the quality of work they can produce and can be surprised by just how much they already know.
•And finally, that they feel seen and heard in the classroom. I have consistently tried to avoid introducing concrete interpretations of the content I present to classes, preferring instead to allow students to work together to justify their own interpretations through debate and critical thinking. Importantly, this can reduce the anxiety that can be caused by searching for the 'right' answer and focusing more on the student's own growth and analytical skills.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I am excited to tackle the final ELA unit of the school year with this group of students and look forward to working with you all to ensure they continue their growth here at Polson.
Kind regards,
Andy Roestenburg
roestenburga@madison.k21.ct.us