Teaching has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. I cannot think of a more satisfying and challenging tool that has shaped my view of the world, and more importantly, my own heart.
The largest shift in my philosophy of teaching happened when I realized that my “stand and deliver” method in my traditional classroom wasn’t actually working well. I spent enormous amounts of time tending to my curriculum and forgot to tend to my students. All of my energy was spent holding up high ideals, standards, and expectations. I forgot to look right into the eyes and hearts of my students.
I experienced a lot of freedom, and a huge philosophy shift, when I finally tended to my students first before my subjects. I learned from them, listened to their ideas, connected more with their ideas and struggles, and marveled at the wonder of them – not the greatness of our textbooks. This was the year of teaching that finally felt right. The year when teaching became a vocation and not just a career path. The year that felt life-giving, and held so much growth for all of us.
I believe deeply in the constructivist approach. Teaching is the opportunity to connect students with as many experiences as possible and grow right alongside them. It is asking the right questions and modeling the beautiful process of curiosity. The environment, the community, the relationships, and the children themselves all equally become the teachers, and learning is always, always happening.
I still dream of becoming a masterful and effective teacher, but now it looks a bit different than the vision I had when I stepped into my first classroom. What I picture in the years in front of me, and what I will attempt to describe to you, is a dream both for my own professional growth but also a space and a school for my own two curious children.
A microschool is meant to be small and powerful. I plan on bringing the full force of my craft into an intimate and small, but beautiful space: purposefully designing time, space, and habits with students who are already naturally curious and who love learning. Throughout this website, I hope you’ll see the beauty and vision of investing in Skola Microschool. 
Kristin Fink
SKOLA Founder and Teacher