Sharing the Success
Joyce Himmelstein

Joyce Himmelstein credits her daughter Holly’s recent academic scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to the “good foundation that set her upon the path to be where she is today.” Holly received 30 credit hours by testing out of classes in English and math.

Joyce noted several qualities or characteristic found in her daughters teachers grades one through four. The first was the development of a partnership between parent, child and teacher. According to Joyce, these teachers involved the parents in every aspect of their children’s learning. “They believed in utilizing all available resources, and they felt that the parents were their best resource.”

A Parent/Teacher Council met at least three times a week to work with the children on reading. A “love of reading” was developed, and parent and child were encouraged to read together at home.

Another quality related to the use of positive reinforcement and the encouragement for the children to be independent thinkers. These teachers stepped in to assist students in developing a plan to reach their goals, but did not “give them the answers.”

Joyce believes that continuity added to the success of this early learning. Her daughter Holly had the same teacher for two years—first and third, second and fourth. These two teachers fostered a desire to learn in the children that they taught.

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