First Grade

Welcome to 1st Grade! You will be amazed at just how much your child will grow this year. In first grade, students will continue to build on their knowledge of reading and writing as they master foundational skills. We hope that you will hear your child read often and talk more about certain topics as they develop their reading comprehension and critical literacy skills. First Graders will continue to develop their understanding of how numbers work in order to learn more complicated addition, subtraction, and mathematical problem solving skills. They will take on the role of scientists like aquarium researchers who are working to explain animal and plant defenses or engineers that are looking to create sound sources for theaters. This year will be filled with activities to develop socioemotional skills such empathy, self-management, positive relationship skills, and self-awareness. We hope that your child leaves 1st Grade with a love for reading, a passion for learning, an appreciation for multicultural perspectives, and a stronger sense of social awareness and responsibility!

Linsey Oglanian	I have taught at Kellogg School for 10 amazing years. In those years, I have taught 1st grade, 2nd grade and 3rd grade. I feel so lucky to be a part of the amazing Kellogg community. Kellogg is home. Prior to teaching at Kellogg, I taught Language Arts and Reading at West Chicago Middle School. Following that, I taught Advanced English at Dundee Crown High School; both schools were located in the west suburban towns outside of the city of Chicago. Having taught so many grade levels, I feel so grateful to have spent a majority of my career teaching 1st grade at Kellogg! I love working with this grade level as it is beyond rewarding and so, so special. I graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2008 with my Bachelors of Arts in English and my Bachelors of Science in Education. Following my undergraduate degrees, I received my Masters of Education in Reading Literacy from Benedictine University in Illinois in 2010. I am originally from Chicago and moved to Santa Barbara in 2010. I live here with my husband (Eric), two daughters (Sofia, 5 and Olivia,3), and our Goldendoodle Dilly Pickle. During our free time, we love running, hiking, going to the beach, and exploring this beautiful place we now call home.
Tara Svensson	This is my 28th year in GUSD. I’ve taught 4th, 2nd and 1st grades. Prior to joining the Kellogg Community I taught at La Patera. I’m a California native. I moved to UCSB to go to college and have been here ever since. I am the proud mother of 2 sons. Riley, graduated Cal Poly SLO this past Spring and is now getting his MSBA in Business Analytics. Alec is starting his 3nd year at UCSB and studying Sociology. In my free time I enjoy long walks, dining at many of Santa Barbara’s fabulous restaurants, cooking at home, spending time with friends and going to the beach.
Katherine Haws	I have been lucky enough to teach at Kellogg School since 2017. I moved to Goleta, with my now husband, to pursue a Masters in Education and teaching credential at UCSB back in 2016. I have been lucky enough to stay and teach here at Kellogg since. My husband and I married last year and recently adopted our Goldendoodle Ember. We have enjoyed building our little family here in sunny Santa Barbara and love taking advantage of daily beach walks together. For my undergraduate degree, I attended UC Merced and graduated with a BA in Psychology. I have grown up in classrooms my whole life and come from a family filled with teachers. Both grandmothers are retired teachers, my mother has been teaching for almost thirty years, and my aunt has been teaching in Goleta Union for over 20 years. Family tradition or not, I love working with students and I love bringing my passion into the classroom each and every year. As a teacher, I believe in fostering a respectful and inclusive classroom community through morning meetings, explorative play, mindfulness, and growth mindset conversations. I also want to empower my students to grow in their social and emotional skills through structured conversations and listening practices in order to help them with their empathy, independence, and self-regulation. My goal for my students, regardless of the task, is to challenge themselves, put in their best effort, and make mistakes because that is how we all learn and grow. Most importantly, I want my students to know that as their teacher, I always believe in them and am here to help support and nurture their overall academic and social growth.

Linsey Oglanian

I have taught at Kellogg School for 10 amazing years. In those years, I have taught 1st grade, 2nd grade and 3rd grade. I feel so lucky to be a part of the amazing Kellogg community. Kellogg is home.

Prior to teaching at Kellogg, I taught Language Arts and Reading at West Chicago Middle School. Following that, I taught Advanced English at Dundee Crown High School; both schools were located in the west suburban towns outside of the city of Chicago.

Having taught so many grade levels, I feel so grateful to have spent a majority of my career teaching 1st grade at Kellogg! I love working with this grade level as it is beyond rewarding and so, so special.

I graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2008 with my Bachelors of Arts in English and my Bachelors of Science in Education. Following my undergraduate degrees, I received my Masters of Education in Reading Literacy from Benedictine University in Illinois in 2010.

I am originally from Chicago and moved to Santa Barbara in 2010. I live here with my husband (Eric), two daughters (Sofia, 5 and Olivia,3), and our Goldendoodle Dilly Pickle. During our free time, we love running, hiking, going to the beach, and exploring this beautiful place we now call home.

Tara Svensson

This is my 28th year in GUSD. I’ve taught 4th, 2nd and 1st grades. Prior to joining the Kellogg Community I taught at La Patera.

I’m a California native. I moved to UCSB to go to college and have been here ever since.

I am the proud mother of 2 sons. Riley, graduated Cal Poly SLO this past Spring and is now getting his MSBA in Business Analytics. Alec is starting his 3nd year at UCSB and studying Sociology.

In my free time I enjoy long walks, dining at many of Santa Barbara’s fabulous restaurants, cooking at home, spending time with friends and going to the beach.

Katherine Haws

I have been lucky enough to teach at Kellogg School since 2017. I moved to Goleta, with my now husband, to pursue a Masters in Education and teaching credential at UCSB back in 2016. I have been lucky enough to stay and teach here at Kellogg since. My husband and I married last year and recently adopted our Goldendoodle Ember. We have enjoyed building our little family here in sunny Santa Barbara and love taking advantage of daily beach walks together.

For my undergraduate degree, I attended UC Merced and graduated with a BA in Psychology. I have grown up in classrooms my whole life and come from a family filled with teachers. Both grandmothers are retired teachers, my mother has been teaching for almost thirty years, and my aunt has been teaching in Goleta Union for over 20 years. Family tradition or not, I love working with students and I love bringing my passion into the classroom each and every year.

As a teacher, I believe in fostering a respectful and inclusive classroom community through morning meetings, explorative play, mindfulness, and growth mindset conversations. I also want to empower my students to grow in their social and emotional skills through structured conversations and listening practices in order to help them with their empathy, independence, and self-regulation.

My goal for my students, regardless of the task, is to challenge themselves, put in their best effort, and make mistakes because that is how we all learn and grow. Most importantly, I want my students to know that as their teacher, I always believe in them and am here to help support and nurture their overall academic and social growth.