Philosophy
Education has such a complex and intricate balance. There are so many elements that facilitate or hinder learning: administration, parents, physical environment, students, culture, and teachers. However, I believe there are some constants, things I can do to make my classroom and my community a better place.
Critical Thinking - Critical thought is the most powerful tool I can urge my students to use. If you think, you can look after yourself. You can resist advertisements and rousing political speeches. You can question the status quo. You can solve problems. I want to explicitly teach problem solving. I want to ask careful questions and not give answers. Even better, once you've learned to think, it can never be taken away.
Community – We are all connected—I can't teach alone, nor should I. I want parents and community members in my classroom as much as possible. I want the internet in my classroom. I want flora and fauna in my classroom. Life is a group effort and so should learning be.
To function well in the community, we all need social skills. Skills like treating others with respect, problem solving, learning self-awareness, and empathy. Some of students’ success depends on their relationships with me but some of it depends on the relationship with their peers. I can give the class a forum for team-building with morning meetings so they can great each other and share news. Also, regular problem solving sessions as a class will repeatedly model how to resolve conflict and brainstorm solutions. To create a successful collaborative classroom environment, students will need social skills—social skills that will be essential to the rest of their lives.
High Expectations - I believe that everyone can learn and that learning is fun. I want my students to believe in themselves. There are so many ways to show high expectations: praise hard work—not just “smarts”, only accept full and complete answers, and insist that everyone participates. My classroom is a place that encourages exploration and a place for making mistakes. All my students can and will go to college.
Balanced Curriculum - Times are changing and many schools in the United States are failing to prepare students for the new world. Fortunately, those with possible solutions are coming into the national spotlight. I celebrate the change in common core curriculum and the rising emphasis on 21st century skills. Everything taught in school should be useful in students’ lives outside of school. Successful professionals are flexible, thinking, problem solvers with a balance of skills, Renaissance people. I want my students to attain the same qualities. As a teacher, I can use to encourage a range of skills by keeping the curriculum balanced and to give equal time to all subjects.
Teaching is challenging but I believe that every step I take with my students towards understanding and empathy will make the world a better place.
Critical Thinking - Critical thought is the most powerful tool I can urge my students to use. If you think, you can look after yourself. You can resist advertisements and rousing political speeches. You can question the status quo. You can solve problems. I want to explicitly teach problem solving. I want to ask careful questions and not give answers. Even better, once you've learned to think, it can never be taken away.
Community – We are all connected—I can't teach alone, nor should I. I want parents and community members in my classroom as much as possible. I want the internet in my classroom. I want flora and fauna in my classroom. Life is a group effort and so should learning be.
To function well in the community, we all need social skills. Skills like treating others with respect, problem solving, learning self-awareness, and empathy. Some of students’ success depends on their relationships with me but some of it depends on the relationship with their peers. I can give the class a forum for team-building with morning meetings so they can great each other and share news. Also, regular problem solving sessions as a class will repeatedly model how to resolve conflict and brainstorm solutions. To create a successful collaborative classroom environment, students will need social skills—social skills that will be essential to the rest of their lives.
High Expectations - I believe that everyone can learn and that learning is fun. I want my students to believe in themselves. There are so many ways to show high expectations: praise hard work—not just “smarts”, only accept full and complete answers, and insist that everyone participates. My classroom is a place that encourages exploration and a place for making mistakes. All my students can and will go to college.
Balanced Curriculum - Times are changing and many schools in the United States are failing to prepare students for the new world. Fortunately, those with possible solutions are coming into the national spotlight. I celebrate the change in common core curriculum and the rising emphasis on 21st century skills. Everything taught in school should be useful in students’ lives outside of school. Successful professionals are flexible, thinking, problem solvers with a balance of skills, Renaissance people. I want my students to attain the same qualities. As a teacher, I can use to encourage a range of skills by keeping the curriculum balanced and to give equal time to all subjects.
Teaching is challenging but I believe that every step I take with my students towards understanding and empathy will make the world a better place.