Building relationships in a multi-grade classroom

GREENOUGH – "What better way to really form relationships with kids and their families than a setting like this," said Lilah Fox, Sunset School's kindergarten – fourth grade (K-4) and reading teacher for K-8. "It is amazing what you can do here with this small setting in terms of getting to know the kids and their families and their siblings."

Fox started at Sunset School in the fall of 2020. As a first year teacher that didn't know Sunset School existed until she applied, she has embraced teaching in the two-room schoolhouse. Fox said she loves the small school atmosphere where she can get to know her students, identify their strengths and abilities and build relationships with them and their families.

"I live in Missoula, I don't live in this community but I really feel a part of it," Fox said. "I like that I have been welcomed into this community and that is really what I was looking for."

When she was young, Fox wanted to be a million different things. Fox's mother worked as a paraprofessional and education was valued in her family. She had a lot of great teachers growing up and she looked up to them, however she never considered going into teaching herself.

She started pursuing nursing in college. After her first year, she realized she did not enjoy it. However, what she did enjoy was the learning process.

"I liked studying and learning with other people," Fox said. "I [thought] 'I wish I could do this forever. Then I realized I can do this forever, I will be a teacher."

She switched her major to elementary education. She finished her associate's degree at Helena College and then she attended the University of Montana to finish her elementary education degree.

She graduated from UM in 2020 with a degree in elementary (K-8) education and a literacy endorsement for K-12.

In the spring of 2020 she applied to several teaching jobs. Even though Bonner did not hire her, they recommended her to Missoula County Superintendent Erin Lipkind. Lipkind called Fox and asked her if she would be interested in applying at Sunset School. "What is Sunset?" Fox recalled asking Lipkind. "This was the first time I had ever been out here or heard of Sunset was when I was called for the interview."

At her interview, Fox was impressed with the two-room schoolhouse and atmosphere.

She also really liked supervising teacher Toni Hatten and the family dynamics she has with her daughter Tessa Stevens who works as the school's paraprofessional.

When she started in the fall of 2020, she said the learning curve was huge. Not only was she a first-year teacher but she had to teach the different grade levels and learn and meet the different standards for all the grades.

"That is what makes this school really unique is all the different ages that you have, figuring out how you can help those kids work together despite the fact that they are all different ages," Fox said. "It is nothing I ever imagined myself doing but I'm glad I'm here."

She said her flexibility and ability to adapt very quickly to changing situations has been a huge strength.

Fox added that she developed strategies to support learners of different abilities for her literary endorsement's capstone project. She has applied this to meet kindergartners through eighth graders reading levels.

Fox said while it has been challenging teaching the different grade levels, she feels that it is making her a better teacher. She relies on Hatten for advice and appreciates her partnership. She added keeping accurate records has helped her assess if something is working or not so she can shift what she is doing and be more effective with classroom behavior and teaching strategies.

While online resources for multi-grade classrooms are not easy to find, Fox said coming early, staying a little late and putting in time on the weekends helps her have everything planned out.

"If I have a plan, usually we can stay on pace," Fox said.

Now that she has a year of experience, Fox said she looks forward to trying new things and she feels more confident in what she is doing.

"I can worry less about how I'm going to do it and worry more about working with the kids and making it enjoyable and fun for them," Fox said.

In her second year, she has taught every elementary grade but third grade. She feels it has given her experience in supporting students of all different abilities.

"I have experience with kids of all ages, except high school," Fox said. "I didn't know what I was getting into but I absolutely love this place. It is never anything I imaged myself in this environment, but now that I'm here I wouldn't trade it for anything else. I love the school and the kids and the families and the teachers up to our superintendent. Everyone has just been so fantastic and it is such a welcoming place."

In her free time, Fox likes "finding the treasures" at garage sales and thrift stores. She loves hanging out with her fiancé Troy Sheehan, German Sheppard named Widget and her family in Helena.