Teacher in the Lower School for Reading and Writing

Viewpoint School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school serving 1,200 students in grades K-12. Viewpoint is located in the Santa Monica Mountains of Los Angeles County on a 40-acre campus in Calabasas, close to the countless urban and recreational destinations Los Angeles has to offer.

Viewpoint School prioritizes the quality of the student experience within a context of achievement, and encourages broad student participation in academic and co-curricular opportunities. The school community is unified by a shared set of values and seeks always to strengthen its culture of learning, purpose, caring, and challenge. Viewpoint asks teachers to create relational classroom climates conducive to collaboration, creativity, and application. Employees are part of a dynamic community of bright, engaged students and colleagues. Balancing academic achievement with student wellness is also a priority for the School.

We are honored to have been named 2022, 2023, and 2024 Best Place to Work in SoCal by Best Companies Group. Our talented staff are the ones that made this happen and make this a great place to work every day. What makes this news even better? We're hiring!

Viewpoint School is currently seeking a Teacher in the Lower School. The Teacher in the Lower School is responsible for all aspects of creating a dynamic and engaging learning environment for students in a Lower School class.

Primary Functions:

• Prepare materials and classroom for general class activities
• Create, prepare, and teach lessons, activities, and projects based on readers’ and writers’ workshop pedagogy
• Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students’ varying needs and interests
• Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of direct instruction, demonstration (modeling), and reading and writing time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, learn, and investigate
• Engage with students in student-to-teacher feedback loop in regards to development of reading and writing skills
• Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods such as direct instruction, modeling, class discussions
• Allow for students’ to explore, discover, collaborate, and reflect on lessons to encourage student-based learning
• Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students
• Prepare lessons, activities, and observations in order to evaluate student progress
• Write report card comments based on student academic and social-emotional goals and progress
• Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children’s progress, and to determine their priorities and goals for their children in work habits, citizenship, and specific subject areas
• Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use during learning activities
• Collaborate with grade-level teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of academic and social-emotional programs
• Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops in order to maintain and improve professional competence in specific subjects like reading and writing
• Supervise outside classroom and playground activities (sometimes)

Experience, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Required:

• Bachelors’ degree and minimum of three years’ experience as teacher at elementary school level
• Experience teaching readers’ and writers’ workshop models preferred
• Passion for teaching reading and writing
• Knowledge and expertise in children’s literature
• Strong analytical reading skills in fiction and nonfiction texts
• Strong writing skills
• Flexible thinker, collaborator, and supportive colleague
• Positive role model
• Loves children and loves learning
• Ability to communicate effectively via email and in-person with all constituents in a school environment, including colleagues and parents
• Position requires adaptability, analyzing, assessing, calculating, decision making, dependability, good judgment, reading, memorizing, social skills, speaking, multitasking, and writing
• Must demonstrate competency with basic word processing, spreadsheet, data base, internet and computer functions within Google Drive
• Ability to use basic office equipment
• In addition to the position described above, you agree to perform other duties and responsibilities as shall be assigned by Head of School or other supervisor

Compensation: Anticipated compensation is $65,000 - $85,000 depending on experience.