You Can’t Teach Them Unless You Know Them

Submitted by James Choi, Lower School Principal 

Years ago, I worked alongside a school leader who frequently reiterated a mantra that has stuck with me to this day. He used to say, “You can’t teach them unless you know them.” 

Through the years, I’ve come to more fully appreciate the veracity of that statement. To properly educate a child, a teacher must connect with the learner’s background, understand their existing knowledge, and identify individual needs. To know a learner is simultaneously relational and intellectual. 

During the first few weeks of school, I am learning just how impressively our Lower School teachers get to know our students. In some grades, students get to know their teachers and each other through an activity called Just Like Me, where they find common interests and similarities. In other grades, children prepare Me Bags to present artifacts that represent things that are of importance to them.

Academically, we administer literacy assessments to gauge students’ phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, and reading comprehension. Similarly, in math, we conduct math interviews to assess students’ number sense, computational thinking, and foundational numeracy skills. In the earliest grades, we also partner with trusted external partners to conduct speech and language screenings. All of these endeavors serve to build relationships and understand student needs so that we can positively impact learning outcomes. 

The foundation of our work is in knowing your child. Our programs are designed to uplift students’ strengths while also identifying and addressing their areas for growth. Amidst the myriad ways that our teachers have been getting to know your children in these first weeks, we acknowledge the unique knowledge and expertise you hold as parents and caregivers. We consider forging and flourishing relationships with parents as an essential part of our commitment to your child, and I thank you for your continued partnership. 

I am thrilled for the journey ahead and the incredible things our students will both experience and accomplish this year.