Taipei Adventist American SchoolAcademics
Grade 3
Message to Students and Parents
Hello! I'm glad you are checking out 3rd Grade at TAAS. I’m the 3rd grade teacher. I'd like tell you a bit about our class. We are a nature-centered class. We bring the outdoors indoors to observe and study. At various times, we have interesting creatures visiting our classroom, such as: parrots, squirrels, beetles, walking sticks, plants, frogs, praying mantis, and the list goes on. Sometimes we go on fun nature walks on trails around TAAS.
We also like to cook great tasting foods, so when we do well on our tests, we get to make things like: bread, doughnuts, onion rings, pies, ice cream, etc. in our classroom kitchen! This encourages us to try pretty hard in our school work. We also like to sing. We start the day with fun songs and learn how to sing both as a group and even as a soloist. Then, we share this talent in various school programs.
We also learn that Jesus loves us very much. We try to share His love in our classroom and with others. Sometimes we visit old people in nursing homes to share Jesus’ love and our love, too. They really appreciate that! Of course, we do all the regular things, like: Spelling, Chinese, Math, Language Arts, P.E., Handwriting, Science, Social Studies, Reading, Bible, and Technology. Third Grade work is hard, and we have to study each night to complete our assignments. But, it is worth it. We have big dreams for our future!
Rachel Gagarin
3rd Grade Teacher
Degree:
Bachelor of Science - Major in Math, minor in Biology
Interests and Hobbies:
I enjoy walking and climbing mountains. I’m trying to climb all the mountains at Yang Ming Shan. I love reading too, but most of all I enjoy SILENCE. Yes, silence. Somewhere in the silence, I find it easier to listen to God as He speaks to me of His love. There is silence in nature, that’s why I love to walk on a mountain trail, on a rocky coast, in a pine forest, and on a sandy beach. Nature brings healing to the body too.The Creator designed it that way.
My Message:
I’ve been at the school for almost 20 years. Why that long? Because TAAS is a student-centered learning environment that empowers and inspires students to be creative, innovative, nature lovers, and to love God. At school, we find timeless lessons from nature as an effective preparation for eternity. Eternity with Jesus. Since TAAS is not a very big school, we teachers have lots of chances to know each child, their dreams, hopes and fears. We find many ways to listen to our students, to learn about them, and learn from them.I learn a lot from my students. Teaching is learning. And learning has no finish line for teachers and students. We’re all on a journey. JOURNEY TO EXCELLENCE.