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Ruth Beecher was energetic and extremely enthusiastic about her classes and teaching. She gave me insight into the unique program at the Robinson School and showed me the creative projects that the kids have done. Not only does Ruth Beecher teach traditional academic subjects, but she teaches her students art, teamwork, cooking, community knowledge and experiential knowledge of nature. She brings in people from the community to impart skills and wisdom that they have. Looking at the projects that she was doing was quite stunning when considering their breadth and depth. The interview went very well, but it makes me sad that it is not possible to focus on Robinson School with all of its unique attributes and deep connection to the town as a whole.
0:25 Growing up in Vermont. Living in the city and in the country.
0:57 Family and siblings. Family life growing up.
1:46 Husband Will and moving to Starksboro. College at UVM.
5:13 Switching from teaching different grades. This is her first year with third and fourth graders.
6:03 “What’s interesting, even within a straight grade, there is a huge range of ability. . . there’s a lot of sharing going on. . .t he older kids can teach the younger kids. . . everyone is good at something, some are better at riding a bike. . . or climbing the pole at recess.”
8:28 Lucky at Robinson school to have small class sizes.
8:55 “I have this huge range, so whatever level the child is at, I try to have things available for them in reading.”
10:12 Team building and emotional development in the classroom.
10:45 “We try to have a school-wide climate with three basic rules: we respect learning, we respect each other, and we respect Robinson School. . . . [any rule] can be phrased positively . . . We try to have the kids help make the classroom rules, and then see how they fit into those three categories.”
16:40 Learning outside the classroom, in nature
17:30 Sled dogs and learning from community
18:04 Art grant and on trying to infuse art into the classroom. Visual art, music, dance and movement. Her students’ art projects.
20:00 Student Writing
22:25 Bringing in the community members. Examples: Native American knowledge, cooking; making salsa, making cornmeal and cornbread
22:48 “I really am into food and nutrition and want kids to prepare their food and see where it comes from, and then eat it.”
26:00 “They love coming to school.”
26:26 Persistence as school wide theme and the importance of teaching persistence. Persistence the musical.
29:10 Differences between teaching younger versus older kids. Third and fourth graders are into social interactions.
31:56 How do you asses students?
35:36 Conflicts between classroom and administrative requirements.
37:02 “I also love living in the town that I work in because I feel like I know a lot of the families so well.”
37:41 “School is just one part of their day and then they have this other family life, and their friend life . . . . and that helps me understand if someone is having a hard time.”