A bit about Mrs. Jeffes:

This is my fourth year teaching 5th graders at Heights, having earned my BA in Elementary Education from NNU.  I've been married to my husband George for 32 years and we live in Star with our dogs, Daisy and Molly. Our 26-year-old son Gavin and his wife Christina live in Boise.  In my free time, I love to hike (snowshoe in the winter), read, fly fish, and spend time at our Idaho City cabin.  

My classroom philosophy:

I want to prepare my students to be kind, responsible 21st Century citizens, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners.   To meet that goal, I do my best to model behaviors I expect in my students:  hard work, compassion, a positive attitude, and enthusiasm for learning.  

In the classroom, I challenge my students with engaging inquiry lessons and hands-on, authentic learning activities. They will work frequently in cooperative peer groups, use technology in a variety of ways,  and be asked to “share their thinking” in both oral and written form.  I expect them to work hard, but we also have lots of fun!  

I am purposeful in trying to build a safe learning community and have high expectations for respectful and responsible behavior.  I use “Tribes” and “Love and Logic” techniques to build a positive classroom community and help students develop self-control through logical consequences.  I provide numerous opportunities to develop good citizenship traits through classroom jobs and service activities.  

I am regularly involved in outside, professional development in order to stay abreast of the latest ideas in education. During the past year, I was honored to take part in the Idaho Core Teacher program where I worked arm-in-arm with the best Educators in the State.  The new ideas inspired me to incorporate several new strategies this coming year, as did the information I gleaned while attending a conference on Standards and Assessment.   I have a love of learning that I sincerely hope will be contagious to the students!