Teacher Feature: Rhonda Ryder

By Barbara P. Jacoby

Learning becomes a passion for fourth graders in Bascomb ES teacher Rhonda Ryder’s class.

Ryder, a 29-year teacher and her school’s 2022 Teacher of the Year, generates this engagement through a special annual project for which students become the teachers.

For their “Passion Project,” each student must decide, plan, research, develop, and present a lesson on their passion. Recent lessons have included learning the Chinese language, raising backyard chickens, studying how red blood cells work, and creating their own YouTube channel.

“I want my students to understand passion drives learning,” Ryder said, noting the projects also lead students to think further about possible future careers. “Sharing our passions and building self-worth through compassion, empathy, and service to others extends beyond the classroom and impacts student growth.”

Ryder decided on her career path as a high school student. She worked in a daycare and “experienced the joy of learning through the eyes of a child.”

“I knew becoming a teacher would be in my future,” said Ryder, who also serves in school and district committee roles to share her expertise.

Creativity is a daily part of Ryder’s English language arts and social studies classes, where they “dance, sing, tell jokes, laugh, and create a classroom full of joy.”

Some days, the desks are turned over to serve as covered wagons for a journey on the Oregon Trail, or the entire classroom transforms into a restaurant.

“They aren’t sure what I will do next within the lesson, and it keeps them on their toes wondering,” she said. “I encourage my students to become excited about learning by creating excitement for myself by having fun. When I am excited about what we are learning, the students become engaged and want to share my excitement,” she added. “I want them to leave each day with a fourth-grade memory and a happy heart. Building a classroom community of learners takes time, but once the students realize I’m invested in making learning fun, they invest in the learning, too!”

 

What can parents do to help their child be as successful as possible at school?

“The best way to help your child succeed in school is to partner with your child’s teacher. Parents can model a positive attitude about learning and education with their children by creating a routine to build confidence in themselves as learners, showing interest in what they are learning, and developing a plan of action to help them become responsible for their learning even when mistakes happen,” Ryder said. “Engaging in conversations with active listening and questioning allows students to explore their language skills and inquiry, which builds a foundation for seeking solutions to their problems. Parents can make reading a priority in their daily routines. Encouraging reading in the home is the single most important thing a parent can do to help their child become a successful lifelong learner!”