Philosophy of education
Being a lifelong learner, I have always wanted to share my excitement for learning with others. I love to see the learning process develop before my eyes as a concept finally "clicks" with a student. That A-HA! moment encourages me everyday to develop lesson plans that the children can relate to and understand.
I believe that students should be taught about the importance of respecting differing opinions. Learning about new points of view can be eye-opening. I would like to see my students learn self-respect, respect of others, and a strong will for what they believe in. They will also learn the art of compromise. These traits can be taught through large and small group discussions and one-on-one talks. I believe that personal stories should be shared and valued in the classroom and students who make life connections to the lessons are far more likely to understand and remember the material being taught. One way that I can build these connections is to be involved with the children outside of the classroom by attending as many events as possible.
My belief that every child is different and learns in many different ways helps me in my lesson planning. They all have different interests, abilities, and learning styles. They come from different cultural and economic backgrounds. But, they each deserve the opportunity to succeed. I must keep in mind that children need to hear, see, and apply the material before they can truly understand the lessons being taught. This will be done with direct instruction, hands-on activities, and small group discussions.
Giving students a variety of ways to express their knowledge of a subject will allow them to understand that learning can be fun. Although the lessons will be enjoyable, the material will still be rigorous. Rather than "teaching to the test", my goal is to teach the students to master the assessments by what is taught through my daily assignments. Comprehension of subjects may not be there if students are reading or investigating topics which are unfamiliar to them. To prevent this, I will work with my students' parents to learn more about their backgrounds and experiences. By learning more about their upbringing and culture, I am able to shape my lessons so that direct relations can be made between their lives and wha they are learning.
At the end of each unit, I reflect on how and what the children learned and how I can better improve for upcoming units.
I will always strive to make my classroom a safe and comfortable learning environment. I will promote diversity by teaching activities that teach students about each other and different cultures. In order for my students to learn to respect their fellow peers, racial discrimination and prejudices will not be tolerated.
Collaboration with other teachers within my school and in online teaching communities is essential. As our students are learners, so are we. As someone new to the teaching profession, it is up to me to find mentors that I can talk to in order for me to grow. There will always be something new that I can learn from another teacher or administrator, and I look forward to gathering as much knowledge as I can.
As Susan Geddes (Elementary Teacher of the Year) once said, "I want my students to fall in love with learning; to create, question, and explore throughout their lifetime!"
I believe that students should be taught about the importance of respecting differing opinions. Learning about new points of view can be eye-opening. I would like to see my students learn self-respect, respect of others, and a strong will for what they believe in. They will also learn the art of compromise. These traits can be taught through large and small group discussions and one-on-one talks. I believe that personal stories should be shared and valued in the classroom and students who make life connections to the lessons are far more likely to understand and remember the material being taught. One way that I can build these connections is to be involved with the children outside of the classroom by attending as many events as possible.
My belief that every child is different and learns in many different ways helps me in my lesson planning. They all have different interests, abilities, and learning styles. They come from different cultural and economic backgrounds. But, they each deserve the opportunity to succeed. I must keep in mind that children need to hear, see, and apply the material before they can truly understand the lessons being taught. This will be done with direct instruction, hands-on activities, and small group discussions.
Giving students a variety of ways to express their knowledge of a subject will allow them to understand that learning can be fun. Although the lessons will be enjoyable, the material will still be rigorous. Rather than "teaching to the test", my goal is to teach the students to master the assessments by what is taught through my daily assignments. Comprehension of subjects may not be there if students are reading or investigating topics which are unfamiliar to them. To prevent this, I will work with my students' parents to learn more about their backgrounds and experiences. By learning more about their upbringing and culture, I am able to shape my lessons so that direct relations can be made between their lives and wha they are learning.
At the end of each unit, I reflect on how and what the children learned and how I can better improve for upcoming units.
I will always strive to make my classroom a safe and comfortable learning environment. I will promote diversity by teaching activities that teach students about each other and different cultures. In order for my students to learn to respect their fellow peers, racial discrimination and prejudices will not be tolerated.
Collaboration with other teachers within my school and in online teaching communities is essential. As our students are learners, so are we. As someone new to the teaching profession, it is up to me to find mentors that I can talk to in order for me to grow. There will always be something new that I can learn from another teacher or administrator, and I look forward to gathering as much knowledge as I can.
As Susan Geddes (Elementary Teacher of the Year) once said, "I want my students to fall in love with learning; to create, question, and explore throughout their lifetime!"