About Me

 
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Hey! I’m Rachel

Thanks for stopping in to my teaching corner of the web.

Let me tell you a little bit about myself.

 
 
 
 
 
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My Family

My husband, daughter and I live on the West Coast of Canada, 5 minutes from the ocean and a short drive from the mountains. It almost never snows where we live, but it rains more than 150 days a year, so good rain boots are a must!

 

 
 

My Education

I have a secret fascination with WWII (specifically German) history, and got my undergraduate degree from the University of Victoria in European History before moving to the University of British Columbia to get a second undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. My education degree was focused in inquiry-based learning, and I am a wholehearted believer in the power of inquiry in elementary education!

I’ve taught in both private and public elementary schools in British Columbia, and know firsthand just how hard it can be to do all of the things that teachers are required to do. Teachers are being asked to be literal superheroes: meet the educational, physical, and social-emotional needs of a group of diverse learners, all while balancing relationships (in and out of the classroom), creating an equitable and differentiated curriculum, and making sure the learning we are doing is fun. It’s too much for one person to handle.

 
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I created Poet Prints Teaching to try and tackle one small part of that puzzle.

I wanted to create a space where teachers could look for engaging and rigorous lesson plans that met their local curriculum standards and know that they would be easy to teach.

 
 

My educational philosophy

I believe that learning works best when it is student-led; when teachers are facilitating and students are driving the learning and making real decisions.

Inquiry and project-based learning empower students to look beyond the surface and discover answers for themselves. 

I know that hands-on learning increases engagement and gives students new and exciting ways to interact with the curriculum.

Differentiation is a vital part of education and students need access to materials that will set them up for success.

Relationships within the classroom are vital.  Successful learners come from a positive and respectful classroom community.

 
 
 
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