My name is Tari Hella-Yelk and I am excited to be part of the Galtier Gators. Two years ago, I transferred from an eastside school to be closer to the community, home, and my own children's school/daycare. This is my 11th year teaching and I'm happy to be part of such a hard working, caring, and professional team.
I am passionate about teaching and look forward to our year together full of positive leadership, community building, challenging academics, social and personal growth, and new experiences. We will grow together as a school family!
Feel free to contact me via note, phone call, or e-mail with questions, comments, and/or concerns. My direct number is 651.293.8710 x2257 and my school e-mail address is: tarahn.hella-yelk@spps.org.
DAILY SCHEDULE: 9:10-9:30 Morning Meeting 9:30-11:00 Literacy Block
11:00-11:10 Bathroom Break
11:10-12:00 Labs/Content Areas:
(Science/Computer & Social Studies/Skills)
12:00-12:50 Specialists: Art or Phy. Ed.
12:50-1:20 Lunch
1:20-1:35 Structured Play
1:35-1:45 Bathroom Break/Transition
1:45-3:15 Math Block w/Ms. Anderson
3:15-3:35 Planners/Read Aloud/Closing
3:40 Dismissal begins
Starting in 5th grade, Galtier teachers specialize which means each one of us have a specialty area of focus in different core academic subjects. I teach Literacy (Reader's & Writer's Workshop) and my teammate, Ms. Anderson, teaches Math. This kind of rotation continues into 6th grade as well. We rotate in the afternoon after lunch/structured play/bathroom break. We start and end our day with our homeroom class. This helps prepare students for junior high and to allow teachers to specialize their training in particular areas.
We are a Responsive Classroom school. This approach to teaching brings together social and academic learning throughout the school day. Some components of the Responsive Classroom approach are Morning Meeting, Rules & Logical Consequences, Guided Discovery, & Classroom Organization. We spend the first 6 weeks of school establishing the rituals & routines and building classroom community. We introduce the classroom and school environment as well as establish the expectations for positive behaviors so that we can all achieve our "Hopes & Goals". From the very first day, one important message conveyed is that we will take on challenging material and do high-quality work in a classroom environment that is safe, supportive, respectful, and collaborative. We are a school family that will "work hard and play hard".
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