Arbor Class Page For Parents: Oneness-Family School (OFS)
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Classroom Information
Assessment at the Lower Elementary Level
Montessori was founded on the principle of observations and in addition to tracking academic skills, the teachers record social, emotional, and physical abilities to better serve the student’s needs and support their development.
Tracking is done on each individual student’s progress by grade and subject following the school’s annual subject goals and a scope and sequence developed by Dr. Montessori. Tracking is based on conversation, presentation, observation, self-assessments, and student portfolios, and progress is shared in detailed reports.
Lower Elementary Benchmarks
The Benchmarks below summarize the skills and outcomes students accomplish in our first-through-third grade program.
Arbor Teaching Team
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Shelby Alston
Lower Elementary Teacher (Grades 1-3)
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Biography
After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University, Shelby Alston joined the Oneness-Family School in 2014. She has a B.A. in English and Sociology. While attending college, Shelby was a member of several prominent campus clubs, including The Student Union on Black Awareness, Sisters United, and The Presidents club. She received many awards while at school, most notably a Golden Bishop award for her work in the community and as a tutor at a school in Columbus, Ohio. She loves to teach science and math and explore the fascinating concepts within each subject with her students.
Shelby enjoys reading, especially science fiction and fantasy in her free time. She also likes to spend time with her nieces, going on walks, having brunch with family and friends, and
Skype with her long-distance friends.
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Kelly Bristow
Lower Elementary Teacher (Grades 1-3)
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Biography
Kelly Bristow is an accomplished educator with a passion for inspiring young minds. She holds a degree in Art History from American University and has taught in various settings throughout her career. Her journey as an educator began when she taught English in South Korea, where she honed her skills in communication and cultural sensitivity.
After returning to the United States, Kelly worked at the National Zoo, leading tours and sharing her love for animals with visitors of all ages. She then transitioned to a role as a substitute and aftercare teacher at Oneness-Family School, where she gained valuable experience working with children of all ages and abilities, before becoming a teacher in the Lower Elementary class in 2020.
Kelly’s teaching philosophy centers on empowering children to ask questions, seek answers, and become advocates for themselves and their communities. She believes that education is more than just acquiring knowledge; it’s about fostering empathy, justice, and connection.
When she’s not in the classroom, Kelly can be found indulging in her love of reading, writing, drawing, crafting, and playing music. She has a particular fascination with animal behavior, fashion history, and art, and enjoys sharing her knowledge with her students whenever possible.
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Robin Socol
Lower Elementary Teacher (Grades 1-3) – Maternity Leave
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Biography
Robin joined the Oneness-Family School team in 2017 after relocating from Boston, where she began her teaching career in Boston Public Schools. She is a graduate of Tufts University (B.A.) and Boston University (M.A.), and has completed her Montessori training at the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies. Within Montessori, she is particularly drawn to the idea of the teacher as observer and experimenter in the classroom, which makes every day its own adventure.
Outside of school, Robin spends time with her husband and their rascally rescue dog, Bandit. Her passions include reading and travel, and she is a lifelong student of languages.
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Sara O’Keefe
Long-Term Substitute (Grades 1-3)
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