Website Ventana School
Joyful learning community exploring students' big ideas
Ventana School is searching for an elementary teacher (4th/5th). This is a co-teaching position with both teachers equally responsible for monitoring and supporting students’ academic and social-emotional progress. We are seeking an energetic, committed educator who knows how to balance direct instruction with inquiry-based project work. This teacher will be a strong collaborator, a thoughtful communicator, and have a good understanding of the developmental needs of 3rd-grade students.
School Overview
Ventana School is a small independent school in Silicon Valley serving students from 2 years old to 5th grade. We believe that all children are capable learners; our role as educators is to create an environment where they flourish. Balancing direct instruction with inquiry-based project work, Ventana teachers give children a strong academic foundation and provide daily opportunities for students to express their creativity, engage their curiosity, and connect with others. At all ages and grade levels, we practice inquiry-based teaching that encourages cross-curricular connections and critical thinking. Social-emotional learning is a vital part of our curriculum and approach. www.ventanaschool.org
What makes teaching at Ventana different:
Inquiry-based teaching with opportunities to create emergent curriculum
Small class sizes
Space and time to build relationships with students and teach social-emotional skills
The Reggio-Emilia approach to education promotes the use of artistic disciplines to invite, and extend, learning at all age levels
Focus on collaboration between teachers and across disciplines
An administration that is committed to eliciting the perspectives of teachers
We are looking for teachers who:
Demonstrate commitment to inquiry-based learning
Are able to balance skill development with experiential exploration
Have strong classroom management skills
Understand the importance of social-emotional learning
Have experience differentiating instruction to meet the needs of a variety of learners
Are reflective practitioners
Are flexible and creative
Essential Expectations:
Elementary teachers are expected to maintain a democratic, creative environment in which meaningful learning and personal growth are fostered through a variety of active learning experiences.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
Providing one-on-one, small group, and whole group instruction. Instructional methods must include direct instruction and inquiry-based exploration in literacy, math, and social studies. Instruction will be in alignment with Ventana’s Reggio Emilia-inspired approach, as guided by the Head of School.
Supporting learning inquiry and active student participation by developing age-appropriate project work through thoughtful reflection on student interests, passions, and dialogues.
Differentiating for individual student needs.
Collaborating daily/weekly/monthly with co-teachers, specialists, teaching team, and Head of School.
Monitoring student progress through consistent observations and regular assessments.
Facilitating a democratic community through daily Morning Meetings and Closing Circles, classroom meetings, conflict resolution strategies, and a view of the child as ‘competent’ in both solving problems and contributing to solutions.
Implementing classroom management strategies that draw on children’s strengths and participation.
