Mamie P. Whitesides
5th Grade
educational philosophy
Social reformer Frederick Douglass noted over a hundred years ago,
“It’s easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
about
John Dewey said, “The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action.”
Parents,
I am so enamored to be your student’s teacher this year! Welcome to the 5th grade and to my classroom. I look forward to working with you and your student this year. I consider us a team, working together for a year of success.
It is my mission to guide your student to academic achievement, but to love doing so! Each child is different in their path. I will steer your child to this goal with cooperation and teamwork. You (the parents) know your child better than anyone else and I will look to you for suggestions on how to better help your student succeed! I encourage home/school communication. I primarily use weekly newsletters which I will post in the announcements area and to your parent email. The newsletter contains important information and reminders, as well as updating you on our learning goals.
Homework is an important part of the learning process. I do not believe in exhausting students in homework, but there will be homework from time to time. I expect students to be filling out their homework assignment notebook daily and recording down tests, quizzes, and turn-in dates. Students will bring home folders containing work samples on Mondays. Please sign and return folders (keep the papers) on Tuesday. If you have any questions, there is a place for you to write comments in the folder.
My educational philosophy is best said by Frederick Douglass, “It is easier to build strong children, than to repair broken men.” I want our students to be lifelong learners, because knowledge never stops giving. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. Email is always best!
Ms. Randi S. Johnson
randi_johnson@charleston.k12.sc.us
5th Grade Teacher
Mamie P. Whitesides
1565 Rifle Range Road
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
School Phone - (843) 849-2838 ext. 26637
Mobile Phone - (843) 603-5916
www.ccsdschools.com
Excellence is our Standard
Education is the main cog in my machine that fuels my everyday. I believe in it more than ever as an educator. That being said, I've come to realize as a life-long learner myself that teacher's should be strongly aligned with student-centered and student-directed learning that embraces exploration, discovery, and experiential learning. Educators need more art infusion, and inquiry-based/project-based learning. School environments should foster the main concepts that learning does not end after high school, socio-economic status does not determine the type of person you will become, and education connects all human-beings to the same causes.
passion
Education is not preparation for life; Education is life itself
