About Ms. Hopler
Rachel Hopler
[ 8th Grade Science Teacher ]
Hello! Thank you for visiting my website. I hope that it will be a useful tool as you navigate my class this year.
I am originally from Salisbury, North Carolina, where my parents still live. I am an NC State Alum (Go Wolfpack!), and this is my 5th year at Culbreth. My degree is in Science Education, with a concentration on Middle Grades, and I also have a minor in Theatre.
I moved to Carrboro to teach 6th grade here at Culbreth back in 2014, but a year later transitioned to 8th grade and found that the curriculum, the kids' maturity level, and my core team made it a perfect fit. Currently, I am living in Burlington with my boyfriend, Paul, and our dog, Hobbes, and I'm looking forward to teaching 8th grade again this year with enthusiastic anticipation!
I recently decided to pursue my National Board Certification, which is a 5 year process in which I will be working to improve my teaching and demonstrate 4 components of mastery:
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1. Knowledge of Content via an Assessment
2. Differentiation in Instruction via portfolio of student work
3. Teaching Practice and Learning Environment via recording of my classroom and an analysis of this video
4. Effectiveness and Reflectiveness via portfolio of how I plan my lessons and reflect on them
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I chose to engage in this process partly because of the experience of my co-workers, Billy Giblin and Molly Caudill, who finished the Certification and described it as highly worthwhile. I am hopeful that it will challenge me to grow as an educator and provide a better experience for my students.
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This year I will be planning my lessons with Morgan May, whom you may know since she has worked next door to me teaching 7th grade for the last few years! We're excited to work together and have already begun putting together materials for the first few months.
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On Tuesday evenings throughout this year, I will be attending rowing practice with the Masters team at University Lake! One benefit of this to you is that I will stay late at Culbreth on those days, so this will be a regular time in which I can provide additional help to students or meet with parents/guardians.
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Thank you so much for being a part of my class this year! I look forward to working with you so all students can be successful!
--August 2018