Stretching the limits of what kindergartners can do

Kindergarten students at Saipan Community School are fortunate to have a creative and imaginative teacher who uses her talents and unending energy to help them exceed far beyond what normal kindergarteners would accomplish during their year.

Kindergarten teacher Rachel Epperson, right, poses with her students at Saipan Community School. (Contributed Photo)

Rachel Epperson, who has taught for two years in the U.S. mainland and three on Saipan, designs activities, assignments, and projects to use in her classroom that would seem too advanced for normal 5- and 6-year-old students. But Rachel has seen such promise in children that age and she strives to help them think “outside the box” and stretch beyond the limits of learning ABCs and numbers. They get the basics, but they also do fun and challenging activities. And she builds and enriches their vocabulary, using actual terms that will be used as the child progresses through the school.

Rachel is a graduate of Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas, which is a private Christian university and Bible college. She holds a Texas certification, as well an education certification from the Association of Christian Schools International, an organization of Christian preschools, elementary, secondary and postsecondary schools.

You wouldn’t expect kindergarteners to do much in a science fair. But Rachel prepared her students well, and they did several exceptional projects, like one that compared density of different objects. By the end of their year, her kindergarten class was definitely ready for first grade.

“The creativity and preparation that she puts into her work is evident,” said SCS director Pastor Phil Warren. A PowerPoint presentation she did for kindergarten graduation is one example. She asked the students what they wanted to be when they grow up. Each child held a small chalkboard with a picture of someone in that profession, like nurse or ballerina or policeman. Then they dressed up that way. “The entire graduation, which Rachel coordinated, was just a really fun experience,” Warren said. “I know parents just loved her presentation.”

“Kindergarten at SCS is a safe community where learning is adventurous and full of fresh discoveries,” Rachel said. “One benefit to SCS is the unique individualized instruction due to small, intimate classes. I am blessed to work in such a positive environment with talented, bright and diligent students. The students I teach are a caring and thoughtful community that foster relationships like a family.”

For more information about SCS, call the SCS office at 234-6687. Enrollment is open now. (SCS)