Dear Reader,

My name is Sarah Ruggirello, and I teach full-day kindergarten at Bentley Elementary

School, located in Canton, Michigan. This is my fourth year of teaching within the PlymouthCanton Community Schools district, and my fifth year of teaching altogether. I received my
bachelors degree from Michigan State University in 2011, with a degree in elementary
education and a focus in language arts. I then received my teaching certificate in 2012 after
completing my student teaching internship in a small district in the Lansing area. After becoming
certified, I was hired to teach kindergarten at a charter school located in Dearborn, Michigan,
where I taught for my first year before getting hired within my current district. My five years of
kindergarten experience have caused me to develop a strong passion for early childhood
education, and it is my hope that through my portfolio, you can see the way in which these young
learners have shaped me as an educator, and continue to influence my teaching on a daily basis.
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools is the fourth largest school district within the state
of Michigan. Bentley Elementary School is one of 14 elementary schools within the district and
serves about 480 students. The school is located in a middle-class neighborhood and just became
a Title I building for the 2016-17 school year, with about 40% of students qualifying for freeand-reduced lunch. Bentley is also very culturally diverse, with over fourteen different dialects
being represented within the student population.
Within my classroom, I teach 26 full-day kindergarten students who range in age from
four to six years old. My classroom is very culturally diverse, and there are currently ten English
Language Learners who speak a language other than English within their homes. My students
also vary greatly in their social, academic, and emotional levels of experience. Their previous
school experiences vary greatly; some of my students have done a full year of preschool, some
have completed our districts young 5s program, some have gone to a daycare-based program,
and others have no previous schooling experience whatsoever. This can present many challenges
for me as a teacher, because my students come to me at various levels and I must adjust my
instruction to meet their individual needs, while also meeting the curricular guidelines and the
Common Core State Standards as well.
Despite the challenges that exist, I thoroughly enjoy teaching kindergarten and love being
able to help to form positive perspectives of school and learning for my young students.
Kindergarten students often enter the school year feeling unsure and hesitant about their new
school environment, and it is incredibly rewarding to watch as their confidence and abilities
increase throughout the year. I am amazed by the development that takes place within my
kindergarten students, and their daily triumphs, no matter how small they may seem, are what
motivate me to continue teaching and learning new things each day.
Sincerely,
Sarah Ruggirello