Kim Bell
kbell.ctv@gmail.com
Our kindergarten/1st grade teacher is Mrs. Kim Bell!
Previous to joining Christ the Vine Lutheran School, Mrs. Bell taught at CS Lewis Academy in Newberg for six years, and for fourteen years prior to that, she taught at St. Paul Lutheran School in Sherwood.
Kim received her bachelor and master’s degrees in “Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education” from Concordia University, Portland. She is highly praised by her former principals and colleagues:
“[Kim] is the unique 1st grade teacher where her students know they are the ‘most important person’ in her classroom.”
“Her ability to connect with her students and her talent at teaching simple concepts, as well as more advanced topics, are both truly superior.”
“Kim begins by creating a setting that is warm and welcoming yet orderly.”
“She is sensitive, kind, and caring yet appropriately firm and very restorative in her classroom management style.”
“Kim teaches with a contagious passion…”
In her own words:
I am passionate about children and teaching. I believe that every child is a unique creation of God, perfectly made. My relationship with the students is important to me. I want the children to know that I care for them, that they are safe, and that they can trust me.
Every child learns differently, so I vary my teaching strategies accordingly that they may learn in a way that best suits them. Meeting each child where they are fosters their success and joy in learning.
I love to help a child conquer challenges! That moment when a child understands a concept (when it clicks) is a thrill. I make it a point to encourage my students when they encounter a difficult concept or task, often using humor to demonstrate that we all struggle and make mistakes.
I follow the Oregon State Standards, using hands-on projects to make the lessons fun and engaging. Whether creating a farm, constructing 3-D animals from paper, preparing for a field trip, or learning about numbers, I make the classroom time interactive. I am dedicated to creating an atmosphere that is stimulating and encouraging to all students.
My husband Rick and I have been married for twenty-six years. In our free time we enjoy gardening, reading, and playing ball with our black lab Koda.