Erin Rick
I am an AACPS: Parent, Nantucket Elementary School
I am writing to express my appreciation for my son’s first grade teacher at Nantucket Elementary School, Ms. Mueller. My son, Sam, has come to really enjoy school this year as a result of Ms. Mueller. I would like to point out a few of the exceptional things I have noticed about her this school year.
Overall Sam is a smart kid and a rule follower. He struggled to enjoy kindergarten because his class was often getting in trouble, which left him feeling frustrated and down. While I do believe Sam’s class is better behaved this year, Ms. Mueller goes out of her way to provide positive reinforcement for her students. Even when the class is having a rough day as a whole, she makes her way to the students who have followed the rules to let them know she sees them and that they are doing a good job. This has made all the difference in Sam’s attitude toward school.
When I had a conference with Ms. Mueller this spring, I asked her to tell me what she has noticed about Sam. She said, “Sam needs to be challenged, but when the challenge is too difficult, he starts to act silly. So that’s when I know he needs my help.” This response is spot on for my son. I was amazed that she could so perfectly describe his learning needs. I appreciate that she is challenging him so that he is not bored in school.
On every occasion that I have visited Sam’s class, the room is calm and friendly. Ms. Mueller clearly cares about each of her students, and she goes out of her way to let them know it. She gets down on their level, keeps the kids on task, and seems acutely aware of the classroom dynamics. I am sure you know many of these things, but imagine it is nice to hear from a parents’ perspective. Thank you for having such a wonderful teacher at Nantucket.
