J Rybak, M.Ed
Hello! I am a NYS Childhood 1-6 certified elementary teacher. There is a science to learning. There's an artfulness in how children grow into their unique selves. As a teacher I situate myself in a supportive and encouraging role, providing my students with lots of opportunities for independent applications of their learning, as well as guided support as new skills and material are being developed.
I love being a teacher. I am also a lifelong learner, and one of the many things I love about teaching children is the celebration of growth and learning that occurs each day in the classroom and in a child's home. I believe that each of my teaching experiences, children and families I work with further shape me into an effective and caring educator. As you'll see on my resume, I have over 15 years of experience teaching children of all ages.
Most recently, I have piloted a Nature Immersion Universal Pre-K program at Shepherd's Gate UPK in the Brentwood School District. This program was created with the intention of enriching the everyday experience of outdoors to young children in an academic setting. Each day, I bring my pre-k class of 16 children outdoors to the beautiful and diverse natural grounds of the Sister's of St. Joseph campus in Brentwood, NY. I created original lesson plans and units of study which combine the UPK curriculum with the natural landscape that the children are immersed in, with the support of my mentor and lots of research. Piloting the Nature Program has allowed me to practice the Curriculum and Instructional Design skills I gained while I earned my Master's in Elementary Education in Portland, Oregon in 2021. I planned a curriculum which thoughtfully paired academic skill building with activities that guide the children how to learn and be curious, as well as how to follow through with their inspiration and curiosity.
Practical Applications of Learning
Multidisciplinary Lesson Plans
Social Emotional Informed Practice
Individual Learning
Style Assessment
My Teaching Philosophy:
Brain-Tickling, Heartwarming Connection
Connection is key in my teaching practice. Making connections, like the link between subject areas and the ideas our learning sparks, and between the people in our learning communities, connections are what keep us tethered to our learning, and meaningfully accountable to one another in our community. During our learning, I often invite children to engage thoughtfully, like "tickling their brains" when encountering something new or interesting, and using the ASL sign for "same" when someone else has expressed a thought or experience they might relate to. The concept of connection in my classroom is always present, as this allows the classrooms I teach to hum with an atmosphere of successful engagement. The presence I try to bring into my work with children is to make them laugh and feel supported while holding them firmly accountable to the goals we set together for their learning and development. I always find an authentic pathway to a productive dynamic with every individual child, family and colleague I encounter. This is something I consider myself to be uniquely dedicated to and gifted at.
Please reach out, as I would love to discuss more about the many other contributions I make to the workplace and school environment, including the arduous but rewarding journey of passing my edTPA in 2021, the skills I used to improve the academic performance and critical thinking of my students, and the way I bring the whole brain and creative applications into the learning environment effectively.
Lesson and Unit Samples
Please see my portfolio of literacy, mathematics and art units throughout the rest of my site.
(Click top-right corner icon on thumbnails to view lesson plan slides full screen)
