We sat down with the Grade 1 General Studies teachers at Posluns, Elisha Margles, Deborah Kauffman and Karyn Morry to hear firsthand about what to expect in Grade 1 at AHS.  Read on to hear what they had to say about the transition from SK to Grade 1, collaboration and creating a safe and fun learning space where students build the confidence and competence they need to succeed in the elementary years.

The SK to Grade One Transition

The transition from Senior Kindergarten to Grade 1 is the first big jump in a child’s educational journey and a magical year of exploration and discovery.  At Associated, our teachers recognize that there is a big shift in the daily structure for students when they start Grade 1 and are dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition from Bet Hayeled to Kitah Aleph. “The transition really starts in SK,” explains Deborah Kauffman, Grade 1 teacher at Posluns. “While in SK, they come to visit the Grade 1 class towards the end of the year. The Grade 1s write letters to the SK students to let them know what to expect in terms of math, homework etc. It’s a personal way to introduce incoming Grade 1s to the first of their elementary years.”

In August, students will have the opportunity to attend a “meet and greet” where they meet their teachers and get to know their new classroom environment.  Once school starts in September, the transition from SK to Grade 1 is celebrated at the end of the first week of school. “Each student is matched up with a Grade 5 buddy and they do several get-to-know-you activities during the first week of school,” explains Elisha Margles, Grade 1 teacher at Posluns.“ At the end of the week, they will have a Tekes Aliya (Moving Up Ceremony) and they walk into the ceremony together, hand in hand, with their buddy, who introduces them and welcomes them to elementary school.”  The buddy relationship continues throughout the year and comes full circle at the Tekes Siyum (Grade 5 Graduation), where the Grade 1s walk the Grade 5s out as they graduate to Middle School. “It’s a very special partnership and provides leadership opportunities for students in both grades.”

To further help with the transition, the teachers spend the first month, settling the students in, teaching them that they have their own space and own desk and reviewing the daily routines.  “Students love that they have their own desk in Grade 1. They love their supplies and they love the independence and many SK students look forward to Grade 1,” explains Karyn Morry, Grade 1 Teacher at Posluns. “They flourish in Grade 1.  We create a space where they understand routines and expectations and where students feel safe to explore and learn.”

Encouraging a Maker Mindset

From Nursery to Grade 8, AHS students build on their Maker Mindset.  “At a young age, students are very creative and uninhibited by the rules imposed on them.  Grade 1 is the perfect time for them to use that creativity,” explains Kauffman. “We do a lot of collaborative learning and creative learning both in the Makerspace and in the classroom. “ The teachers take an integrated approach to lesson planning and allow students to explore, learn and problem solve. In a recent math unit in problem-solving, students were taught about word problems and were then given the opportunity to work in small groups to come up with their own problems.  Students were then asked to solve each other’s word problems. “When we flip learning in this way, we find that students learn best. We give them the structure and they use their creativity in an open-ended way within the structure,” suggests Morry. “Once you let the child explore, they learn, they problem-solve and they don’t give up. They use their Maker Mindset.”

A Collaborative and Cooperative Approach to Teaching

The Grade 1 teachers at Posluns share a collaborative teaching philosophy and work together to ensure a successful year for their students.  They use their Professional Learning Community (PLC) to regroup regularly, reflect and address a burning question that they all have.  Each teacher brings different experiences and expertise to the PLC and share with one another. “We meet once a week and build a mini curriculum together, around an identified need,” says Morry. “Our PLC is focused on the social-emotional development of our students and we work with language to help students initiate friendships and resolve conflict independently in the safe space of the classroom.” 

Above all, the teachers feel strongly about creating a personal connection with each of their students,  providing a safe learning environment that encourages curiosity, expression, and instilling the love of learning in all students so that they can grow, succeed, and achieve.  “When a child feels that personal connection, their productivity at school and their motivation and perseverance is tenfold,” explains Morry. “They feel they are with people who care about them, they are safe to take risks in a safe space,” adds Margles.

“We love what we do and we think Grade 1 is the best year to teach.  The kids make so much progress—you can see it literally happening before your eyes.  They learn to independently read and write….it’s magical,” says Kauffman. 

We invite you to discover more about Grade 1 at AHS.  Contact Tova Sabeti, Admissions Manager to book your personal tour. 

Elisha Margles has been teaching Grade 1 at Polsuns for 13 years.  She has also spent the past 5 years as the librarian. When not at school, Elisha loves to read, watch Netflix and spend time with her husband and 3 sons (Josh, Adam and Jeremy).  They like to travel and go to as many basketball, baseball and football games together as possible. 

Karyn Morry has been teaching Grade 1 at Associated for 20 years.  She has taught both at the Posluns and Kamin campuses. In her spare time, Karyn enjoys keeping company with her better half, Mark.  They enjoy traveling and are looking forward to exploring more offbeat parts of the world. Karyn has a love for children’s books and has started writing a story to inspire children towards an insightful awareness of academic abilities and efforts of others. 

Deborah Kauffman has been teaching at AHS for 8 years.  She has taught at both the Kamin and Posluns branches and this is her first year teaching Grade 1 at Posluns. When not teaching, Deborah enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 children (Alex, Lily and Jason) and her dog, Archie.  She loves having family game night, family movie night and taking Archie to the dog park as a family.