Fiddlehead School of Arts & Sciences
Start Date: August 27, 2018
Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences is one of Maine’s first approved public charter schools. We are located in Gray, Maine, and serve students grades Pre-K through fifth grade. Fiddlehead is committed to the growth and development of the whole child: socially, emotionally, physically, academically, intellectually, and artistically. The goal of a Fiddlehead Education is for students to build a toolbox of habits, skills, and wonderings to drive a lifelong love of learning. We aim to empower learners to seek answers to their own questions and to develop the means necessary for this endeavor.
Description & Responsibilities
We are looking for an inspired and confident teacher, with substantial progressive teaching experience at the elementary level, to facilitate learning in our Kindergarten class with approximately 20 children per class. The position will start in the fall of 2018.
FACILITATE LEARNING: Teach whole group and small group lessons across all domains of learning. Utilize both direct instruction and student-led explorations and projects to meet Common Core benchmarks. Provide a classroom environment that supports community and individual learning. Assess students to gauge progress and inform curricular and instructional decisions.
BUILD CLASSROOM COMMUNITY: Create a safe, respectful, culturally sensitive, responsive learning community. Encourage thoughtful dialogue that challenges student thinking. Explicitly teach social and emotional skills, including problem solving and self-regulation strategies.
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION: Use both published and self-created curricula to meet the needs of students and fulfill Common Core benchmarks. Experience with any of the following is helpful: Lucy Calkins Units of Study in Writing, Eureka Math, Guided Reading model, and Reading Workshop model.
PARTNER WITH FAMILIES: Develop constructive relationships with families. Communicate regularly about student progress and challenges, curriculum, projects and classroom events.
PROFESSIONALISM: Model professional behavior in accordance with job responsibilities, policies and procedures, and the expectations of professionals working in a collaborative community.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor’s degree
Certification or working towards certification at the Elementary level.
At least 3 years of classroom teaching experience.
Current authorization to work in the United States
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience with any of the following: Emergent curriculum, Play-based learning, Reggio Emilia or interdisciplinary studies.
Differentiating instruction to meet the needs of a range of learners in a classroom setting.
Experience with Responsive Classroom and/or Restorative Practices.
SALARY & BENEFITS:
Competitive Salary
Professional Development.
Supportive work environment
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
This position begins September, 2018. (Mandatory, 3-day training in August)
If you are interested in this position, please respond directly to Jacinda Cotton-Castro with your cover letter and resume.
Mail or email to:
Fiddlehead School of Arts & Sciences
25 Shaker Road
Gray, Maine 04039
Attn: Jacinda J. Cotton-Castro
jacinda@fiddleheadschool.org
Fiddlehead School provides equal employment opportunities (EOE) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.
Maine State Law requires ALL school employees to be fingerprinted and pass a Criminal History Record Check (CHRC). A copy of your CHRC MUST be uploaded as part of your application to be considered.
What We Strive For
Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences is committed to the growth and development of the whole child- socially, emotionally, physically, academically, intellectually, and artistically. The goal of a Fiddlehead education is for students to build a toolbox of habits, skills, and wonderings to drive a lifelong love of learning. We aim to empower learners to seek answers to their own questions and to develop the means necessary for this endeavor.
What We Believe
At Fiddlehead, seven core educational beliefs drive our practices throughout the grades:
*We believe children are capable, competent, and innately curious. They are the co-constructors of their own learning. Our school maintains a deep respect for children and childhood.
*We believe the foundation of learning lies in habits of mind such as asking questions, looking closely, making reasonable predictions, and engaging in dialogue. Students are encouraged to express their thought processes orally and in writing. In addition, students are taught executive functioning skills such as planning, organization, and self-control.
*We believe in teachers as facilitators of learning, closely observing children, assessing understanding through a variety of approaches, and using this knowledge to help students
extend their thinking. We offer students a variety of materials and methods to express themselves and their understandings, guiding learning through diverse pathways.
*We believe in learning as a social endeavor, taking place in the cultural context of the child, family, school, and broader community. To this end, we see school and family as partners in a child’s education.
*We believe that social and emotional development are important cornerstones of education. Our students learn to respect diversity in all its forms, problem solve social conflicts, and be advocates for themselves and others.
*We believe in connecting students to the larger world outside the school walls through relationships with community resources and the natural environment. We help students cultivate a sense of place and an understanding of, and appreciation for, the interconnectedness of the world in which they live.
*We believe in the importance of documenting student work and experiences in order to make learning visible to students, families, and our school community.
What Our Approach Looks Like in the Early Childhood Grades
Our early childhood program (Pre-K and K) is play-based, allowing for student exploration. Teachers facilitate social learning, helping our youngest students gain the skills necessary to work and play with others and navigate a group learning environment.
In the early years, we balance emergent curriculum, in which projects and topics arise from the interests and questions of children, with a curriculum that is more teacher-directed.
In our half-day Pre-K program, the domains of math, literacy, art, and science are introduced through the availability of engaging materials, teacher-guided provocations and projects, and exploratory play.
As students transition to full-day Kindergarten, exploration continues both indoors and outdoors, with the integration of small-group, direct teaching experiences. Concepts are presented using a hands-on approach to learning, as students are given a variety of modes through which to learn new material.
What Our Approach Looks Like in the Lower Grades
In first and second grades students have repetitive exposure to concepts and skills through concrete materials, exploration, and direct teaching. This occurs within the context of a hands-on environment in which multiple pathways to learning- verbal, visual, tactile, etc. are accessed. Exploration continues to be nurtured, while basic skills are taught as a means for a larger purpose. The shift from a more emergent curriculum to a more interdisciplinary model begins to take place, as students work on projects and thematic learning that bridge subject areas and continue to foster creativity.
What Our Approach Looks Like in the Upper Grades
Students enter the upper grades of 3-5 ready to use their basic building block skills for larger, in-depth projects and interdisciplinary studies. Increasing independence is nurtured as students gain command over the tools of their own learning. Projects become a more long-term as students refine their work, incorporate feedback, and go into greater depth with concepts and topics. A sense of responsibility is fostered as students prepare for the transition to middle school.
What Our Graduates Can Do
Fiddlehead students leave our school with the skills necessary to think critically, collaborate with others, communicate effectively, and problem solves creatively. Because a Fiddlehead education focuses on the whole child, our students develop not only broad academic proficiency, but also skills such as confidence, compassion, and resilience that are vital for constructive citizenship. Our students are encouraged to engage with the world around them as they continue to learn and grow.
Mail or email to:
Fiddlehead School of Arts & Sciences
25 Shaker Road
Gray, Maine 04039
Attn: Jacinda J. Cotton-Castro
jacinda@fiddleheadschool.org
Together, we are empowering exceptional education.