Standing in front of the Thomas Alva Edison homestead at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI

2006-2007 school photo

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Victoria Jasztal and this is my fifth year as a fourth grade teacher at Moton Elementary School. I am a product of the Hernando County School District. Before teaching in Brooksville, I lived in America's Oldest City, St. Augustine, and interned at W.D. Hartley Elementary School in a second grade classroom. I graduated from Flagler College with a Bachelor of Art degree in Elementary Education with ESOL endorsement. While in St. Augustine, I also worked with students in a self- contained VE classroom (grades 4-5), with two limited English proficient students (grades 1 and 3), in an Art classroom at R.B. Hunt Elementary, and with a 4th grade gifted student at Ketterlinus Elementary School to publish her own book.

Though St. Johns County School District is an incredible place to work, it was far from my family. Though it was a change at first moving back to Brooksville, I adjusted to Moton quickly. I have had the experience of working with a qualified and devoted group of professionals.

I set very high standards for my students because I feel they are capable of achieving anything they desire. Most importantly, I never accept less than one hundred percent of effort from anyone, particularly myself. If I hold such high expectations for my students, then they should expect that degree of effort in return from their teacher. Every day, I try to think of innovative ways I can capture my students' interest in topics that they did not learn much about prior to fourth grade, particularly topics pertaining to Social Studies and Science. It is most rewarding when I watch your child develop inquiry and comprehension skills because I dedicated as much time as I could to make his or her learning experiences authentic.

I genuinely believe that communication is the key to a great parent-teacher relationship. Your child will be accountable for writing homework assignments and keeping track of upcoming tests in his or her agenda. He or she will also be expected to read at least 20 minutes every evening and mark that time in his or her reading log. Please sign the agenda as well as the reading log and respond to written communications as promptly as possible.

Please feel free to participate in your son or daughter's fourth grade year as much as you are able, as my class is always actively involved in completing hands-on projects, reading novels, and working in cooperative groups. I would very much appreciate if I had two or three parents to volunteer as room parents to participate in field trips, assist in class celebrations, and serve as role models for the class.

I am looking forward to an outstanding year! Thank you for your desire to take an active role in your child's educational journey.

Sincerely,
Ms. Jasztal

Q + A

This is from a website called meez.com. You can actually make an animated character to resemble you. Technology truly is incredible.

Q: Before wanting to become a teacher, what did you want to become?
A: An architect or designer of sorts.

Q: When you were growing up, what were your favorite books to read?
A: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis was a book I read in fifth grade. It is my favorite classic book. I also adored Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary and From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler where a brother and sister got locked in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City overnight.

Q: Who is your favorite author?
A: By far, Sharon Creech. Tied for second place are Jean Craighead George and Beverly Cleary.

Q: So Sharon Creech is your favorite author. What is your favorite book by Sharon Creech?
A: Walk Two Moons.

Q: Growing up, what were your favorite subjects in school?
A: Writing and Social Studies/History. I enjoyed writing because I would always write really long stories and have dreams of being an author someday. As for Social Studies, I adored American History (actually more than Florida History, which is what I teach now in fourth grade).

Q: Growing up, what was your least favorite subject?
A: You might be amazed... it was math! The only math classes I enjoyed were in seventh and ninth grade, both of them algebra classes. My aunt told me recently that there comes a time in your life math just "clicks" with you, though, and that time in my life came when I began teaching it to fourth graders. My favorite parts of math to teach/learn are probability/graphing, patterns, and geometry.

Q: You enjoy science very much. What is your favorite part of science?
A: My goodness, my favorite part of science is SPACE AND ASTRONOMY! However, I also enjoy the Human Body and some Chemistry.

Q: Historical sites are places of importance to visit. What are some of the sites you have visited or seen?
A: I lived in St. Augustine for a short portion of my life, so I have seen the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument "the fort", the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum, Flagler College, and the Fountain of Youth. Since I was very young, my family has gotten me interested in learning about Thomas Edison. I have been to Fort Myers to visit the winter home he built next to Henry Ford's. Dade Battlefield is a short distance from my home, so I have also been there. Outside of Florida, I have seen the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Civil War sites in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and many places throughout New York, including New York City.

Q: What is something you wish you had when you were in elementary school?
A: My students go to Math and Science Lab, and I wish that was something we had in elementary school. We just had Music, Art, Library, and P.E.

Q: What was your favorite specials class growing up?
A: All the way, it was art!

Q: What was your least favorite specials class?
A: All the way, it was P.E.!! Second, I would have to say Music. I was not interested in music at all until high school when I tried out for the school musical and joined the All-Girl's Chorus.

Q: Well, life isn't all about school! What is your favorite restaurant?
A: The Cheesecake Factory and Culver's, which is a fast food chain in the northern midwest.

Q: Do you enjoy sports?
A: Yes, for the most part. I don't play sports all that much, yet I am quite the spectator. I have always enjoyed baseball. The closest stadium I have been to is that of the Atlanta Braves. I also enjoy bowling, swimming, cross country running, football, basketball, and miniature golf.

Q: This should be the end now. What are you thankful for?
A: My family, students, and talents. I have faith in myself and others. I am especially thankful for having a giving heart. I enjoy bringing smiles to the faces of others.

This website is designed, created, and maintained by V. Jasztal. All rights reserved, copyright 2005. No part of this website may be copied without written consent.