Meet Mr. Ruffner!

This year the scholars of Bowdoin College, room 314, will have the delight of having an extra set of hands, eyes, and feet as well as an additional pleasant smile in the room! Mr. Ruffner comes to room 314 from The Urban Teacher Center, of which I am currently a second year teaching fellow. As a teaching resident in the 4th grade, My Ruffner will have the opportunity to work closely with myself and the other 4th grade team members. As a result of this collaboration, Mr. Ruffner will gain increasing responsibility for running the day to day logistics of our classroom, providing him with first hand experience to run his very own classroom as soon as next school year! He will be conducting assessments, leading small group work and discussions, transitioning scholars, and any other tasks that help our classroom run smoothly, efficiently, and productively. Simultaneously he will be diligently working to receive his dual Masters in Elementary Education K-6 and Special Education. Bowdoin Polar Bears are SO excited to have Mr. Ruffner in our midst this school year!


From Mr. Ruffner, himself:

My name is Mr. Ruffner and I am excited to work with Ms. Smith and the scholars at Excel Academy.  Reading and Social Studies have always been my favorite subjects throughout high school and college.  I love reading books that cover the American Civil War, slavery, and the Civil Rights Movement. This is my first year teaching fourth grade Reading and Social Studies.  This school year will be a challenge, an excitement, and most of all fun for me. Ms. Smith and I have come up with fun reading activities for our scholars this school year.  It is more than a blessing and honor to work with Ms. Smith and the scholars of Excel.

God Bless,          

Mr. Ruffner

Ms. Smith and Mr. Ruffner are ecstatic to welcome the class of 2023 to 4th grade! 

To learn more about Urban Teacher Center, visit http://www.urbanteachercenter.org/

Welcome to Room 314: Home of the Bowdoin College Class of 2023

Hello! And welcome to the beginning of a new school year! A new year signifies a fresh start in so many ways; scholars are going on to new grades, probably getting new teachers, schools are abuzz with all of the beginning of the year happenings. For us though, few things are as exciting as classroom set-up! It's an opportunity to take a new canvas and paint all of your heart's desires! Beyond that a new classroom is representative of a teacher's hopes for the year, hopes to learn from last year, replicate last year's successes or the success they visualize, and to teach each child SOMETHING everyday.

This year, our class will be named after Bowdoin College. It is a private, highly selective, liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine. Complimentary to the fact that it is my best friends alma mater (love you Ms. Perry-Johnson), it is also another opportunity for me to expose my girls to their options for higher education and I couldn't be more excited about it!

Just like at the beginning of every new year I have also made some resolutions for this new year!

1. Be even more flexible/ manage my stress.
2. Focus more on the positive.
3. Remind my scholars that I love them daily.
4. Give families more ways to be involved in the classroom.
5. Share more of my classroom with my family, friends, colleagues, and other teachers on my blog.

Parents/ Guardians, teachers, school staff, what are some of your resolutions for yourself or your scholar this new school year? Share and inspire.