Experiencing "Firsts"

The beginning of the school year is always a busy time for teachers, but for those teachers new to the profession, the beginning of the year is filled with many "firsts".  This rings especially true for several teachers at Northwood this year who are in their first or second year to the profession. Kendra Wuestenberg is a teacher at Northwood who has been designated as a Mentor Teacher this year. As are all Mentor Teachers, she is a built-in resource to the new teachers in regards to many of their “firsts”.

Right off the bat, Kendra had the opportunity to spend some quality time with those new Northwood teachers going over the details of home visits, as this is one of those “firsts” for them. Each of the home visits last about 30-45 minutes. During the visit, the teacher shares information with the family about what to expect during the preschool year and provides answers to any questions the family may have.

Recently Kendra Wuestenberg, a Mentor Teacher at Northwood, spent time on a home visit with the family of Stephanie Troncosco, a Model Teacher at Mitchell Elementary.

As a part of their conversation during the home visit, the teachers guide the family through setting up a "Hope and Dream" goal for their child’s school year. While these conversations are happening, an Educational Assistant works with the child on a few basic academic skills to give the teacher insight into the skills the child will bring to preschool.

Northwood Model Teacher, Alicia Ortner, completing a book activity on a home visit.

These home visits are not just for paperwork though. When the child is able to see the teacher in their own home, it is the start of a quality relationship. Most students at this age are hesitant to trust others outside of their family. By having the teacher visit the child in their home, where they feel the safest, it creates a positive start to their school experience. The child will remember this visit for a long time. There are many times throughout the school year the students will remember and bring up the time their teacher came to their house.

This process rings true for the new teachers as well. Mentor teachers will make "home visits" to the new teacher's classroom throughout the year providing guidance as they work through the "firsts" of their careers.