Rachel Haims
1st Grade General Studies Teacher
Birthplace:
Columbus, OH
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Early Childhood Education, Tulane University
- In progress: Legacy Heritage Teacher Leader Fellowship Program, Brandeis University
What is your favorite part of working at Schechter?
My favorite part about working at Schechter is the supportive community. When I moved to Chicago and did not know many people, Schechter felt like coming home to a big, extended family. I love working in this collaborative environment that creates opportunities for both students and teachers to learn. Schechter allows me to teach in a way that best suits the learning styles and abilities of my students, with a focus on student growth and meeting students where they are.
What do you love most about your job?
What I love most about teaching 1st grade is seeing each student’s progress and growth from the beginning of the year to the end. They discover their independence, grow as readers and math students, and develop their social emotional skills. I love building our classroom family based on relationships, trust, kindness, and empathy. I love the excitement that fills the room when a student reads a word independently for the first time, adds their first tooth sticker to the tooth chart, or gets on top of the monkey bars after trying so many times.
Please share a quotation that is meaningful to you:
“Imperfections are not inadequacies: they are reminders that we’re all in this together.” —Brené Brown
