About Ms. Harkins
Welcome to 5th and 6th grade Language Arts!
I am thrilled to be teaching at Academy this year! I grew up in Ridgewood and graduated Seton Hall in Secondary Education and English. I am also a parishioner of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, kayaking, spending time outside and traveling.
My teaching philosophy is centered on a classroom that is a community of learners. The classrooms where I gained the most were ones that encouraged me to be authentic. Because I felt free to be myself without judgement, I was able to make mistakes that lead to growth and learning. Additionally, having a personal connection to the material and having it become more meaningful than just words in a textbook creates lasting impact. At many points in my education experience, I had classes that left me thinking, “when will I need this in the real world?”. I hope as a community of learners to answer this question together and see the beauty of language!
