Marvin Maurer Award Recipient 2011: Robin Tarrash

“Knowing how children feel each day, as they begin to build their very first social relationships within the classroom setting is integral. I believe that social and emotional learning and awareness, sets the foundation for early success in school.”
~ Ms. Robin Tarrash, winner of the 2011 Marvin Maurer Award

Congratulations to Ms. Robin Tarrash, the winner of the 2011 Marvin Maurer Award, from Oceanside School #6 in Oceanside, NY

Ms. Robin Tarrash has been working in the field of education for 23 years. Starting out in the NYC Public schools, she devoted ten years to teaching grades Pre-K through Second. Since then, Ms. Tarrash has continued her teaching career at Oceanside Schools, School #6 (Kindergarten Center), for 13 years. She has three teenage children and lives emotional literacy in her home everyday.

Ms. Tarrash feels strongly that The RULER program benefits her students each and every day. Having her children talk about their feelings and the feelings of others enables her to know and to understand “the whole child.” She says: "not only am I getting acquainted with the student I see on the outside, I am also getting a ‘snapshot’ into my student’s feelings." Ms. Tarrash is collaborating with a team of teachers to create a binder outlining instructional activities to compliment The RULER program at an early childhood level. She has been greatly influenced by The RULER Approach to Social and Emotional Learning because it sheds light on the importance of emotion in everyday interactions. Moreover, her students love the program, especially checking in and labeling their emotions on the classroom Mood Meter every day.