Pacific Preparatory's Debut "Teacher Feature" - Moriah
We adore our teachers, which is why we’re starting a new regular blog feature we’re calling “Teacher Features.” These articles will include short Q&A’s with different Pacific Preparatory teachers to give you a glimpse of who our teachers are and why they’re so amazing.
This week, for our debut “Teacher Feature,” we’re highlighting one of our favorite elementary-level teachers, Moriah Geller. We love Moriah because she is so dedicated to her young students, and always finds ways to keep them engaged, which can be challenging in a digital environment.
A parent recently told us: “Moriah is organized, always on time, sends reminders on the morning of the session and detailed recap. She engages my daughter very well, and quickly built great rapport. My daughter enjoys the sessions with Moriah, and she has also guided her to write some amazing articles.”
About Moriah
Moriah has been working with children since 2010. As an undergraduate at Chapman University, she researched the effects of adverse childhood experiences on child development and academic trajectories, and before graduating Summa Cum Laude with a dual-major BA in Integrated Educational Studies and Psychology, she completed a teaching internship at a local Head Start preschool.
Moriah is currently enrolled in the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute’s program, pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Education and a Preliminary California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential.
With Pacific Preparatory, Moriah teaches all K-6 subjects, and specializes in early education. When Moriah is not teaching with Pacific Preparatory, she teaches kindergarten at Marin Horizon School. On her off time, she can be found enjoying the outdoors or reading a new book.
Q&A with Moriah
When did you start teaching and why?
I started volunteering at a local preschool when I was twelve years old. I have always loved working with kids, and this volunteer experience helped to guide my academic and professional trajectories. I love the curiosity, creativity, and possibility of early childhood, and know how important high-quality and enriching experiences are, so I am so grateful that I get to spend my days working with the youngest learners.
What’s your favorite subject to teach and why?
I love to teach phonics. The transformation that occurs when children become aware of letters and their sounds and use that information to explore the world around them is astonishing! So many of the things we do each day involve reading, writing, or otherwise using language, and I love contributing to children’s fundamental knowledge that will help them understand, create, communicate, and learn.
What do you enjoy most about teaching with Pacific Preparatory?
I love that it provides the chance to provide one-on-one attention for students. While group instruction is an important component of the school experience, I think there’s also a lot that can be accomplished in an individualized setting. Also, I appreciate the ability to continue teaching and learning, even during crazy times like these that require us to be home.
Can you tell me about a specific time when you saw a student thriving at Pacific Preparatory?
I recently had a first session with a young student; her math knowledge and skills were far beyond what I had anticipated based on her age, and because we were in a one-on-one setting, I was able to immediately adjust my agenda for our session so that she could be appropriately challenged. Because of the individualized nature of Pacific Prep courses, this student was able to thrive through experiencing a just-right curriculum for her level.
What are your top 3 book recommendations in your subject area?
For Grown-Ups:
The Whole-Brain Child - I really appreciate Dr. Siegel’s research and accessible explanations about the brain. In this book, he combines his knowledge and experience in research and practice to explain how an understanding of children’s brain development is relevant in daily life. This is a great read for anyone who works with or has children!
The Importance of Being Little - I’m still working my way through this book, but so far, have appreciated the way that it explains the importance and complexity of early childhood. This is another great book for teachers and parents alike, both of whom are some of children’s most important anchors.
For Kids:
The Book with No Pictures - I LOVE this book for so many reasons! First and foremost, I love that it demonstrates that books don’t need to have pictures to be entertaining and attention-grabbing. Similarly, I appreciate that it shows how much meaning can be communicated and derived from the way that words are put on a page. Most importantly, though, this book never fails to elicit a chorus of giggles from those who are listening!
What is your favorite activity to do outside of teaching?
One of my favorite ways to relax is to read. I love getting lost in stories and learning about new things that encourage me to think in new ways. I also think it’s important to be a good reading role model for my students. Good teachers are good readers!
What are you learning about right now?
As part of my graduate program, I spent my spring semester learning about language acquisition. The course was actually geared toward the teaching of second language learners, but my biggest takeaways from the course were that we are all language learners - particularly our youngest students - and that opportunities that we can give children to engage in language are extremely formative.
Exceptional teaching
Our academic dean and faculty manager provided the following testimonial for Moriah: “Moriah is an exceptional teacher--we are so grateful for her work. She is high energy, which is great for elementary students in particular, and is extremely thoughtful and detail oriented. She consistently aims to make lessons both engaging and challenges her students to get to the next level.”
We’re so grateful for everything she does for her students, and for our school. Thank you Moriah!