PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
Being an educator is more than choosing to take part in some 9am-5pm job. It's a lifetime commitment to opening students' eyes to how absolutely amazing they are, how much potential they have and just how much they can accomplish with the right guidance and direction. The choice is become an educator extends far beyond the classroom or any expectations that can be explained in some professional guideline or contract, it's a deep recognition that the power of education is essentially the gift of opportunity and potential. A gift so powerful that you will go above and beyond any expectations to ensure that it's well-received by your students.
My philosophy regarding education is simple--- all students want to learn (no matter how much they may protest this at times and no matter how unsure we may feel of this during moments of frustration), all students can learn (especially when we set them up for success through an inclusive, multisensory classroom setting), and absolutely all students, regardless of how similar they may seem, have incredibly different abilities, needs and challenges. For this reason, I believe it's key to approach every single student as a holistic, entire being who functions best when taught in a manner that encourages not only academic growth, but social, creative, emotional and physical growth as well. Through this, educators can shape confident, healthy individuals who are defined by much more than the scores they receive on a test. Individuals who will grow up to be curious, lifelong learners.
In order to achieve this educational goal, I believe that a differentiated approach to teaching is crucial. When we see all of our students as incredible BECAUSE of there differences, it only makes sense to teach them in a way that celebrates these variations, as opposed to attempting to force one form of learning on them. To best do this in an effective way, I believe children need a range of teaching methods in a classroom, including everything from hands-on learning to experiential learning, all building upon the knowledge they construct on their own. Using the constructivist method, I believe students are best able to fully digest information and process in ways that they can truly comprehend and retain.
I firmly believe that children are happiest, most creative and learn most effectively when given the opportunity to explore new information on their own and process it in the ways more naturally suited to them. For this reason, differentiating teaching methods are an essential aspect of how I will reach my classroom goals. No two learners are the same, but the outcome and amount that they learn can ultimately be when we hold them to high standards and allow them to do so naturally.
There are two other key elements that I believe must be part of every child's educational experience. First, they must have a committed and caring teacher who is consistently there to offer support, love and high expectations in the classroom. They must also have a teacher who embraces not only the student, but the student's family, culture and entire community. It's through this that students and teachers can establish the kind of relationship that allows for lifelong impact.
Finally, as technology becomes increasingly important and common in our country, I believe it's absolutely crucial to develop students abilities to navigate the internet and social media for both fun and education. Exposing them to these resources and allowing them to learn through hands-on experience, enables them to stay up to speed with students who have access to technology on a regular basis. Although this may seem progressive, my intention is that every single day in the classroom, technology will be used (by both the teacher and the students) at least half of the time.
My philosophy regarding education is simple--- all students want to learn (no matter how much they may protest this at times and no matter how unsure we may feel of this during moments of frustration), all students can learn (especially when we set them up for success through an inclusive, multisensory classroom setting), and absolutely all students, regardless of how similar they may seem, have incredibly different abilities, needs and challenges. For this reason, I believe it's key to approach every single student as a holistic, entire being who functions best when taught in a manner that encourages not only academic growth, but social, creative, emotional and physical growth as well. Through this, educators can shape confident, healthy individuals who are defined by much more than the scores they receive on a test. Individuals who will grow up to be curious, lifelong learners.
In order to achieve this educational goal, I believe that a differentiated approach to teaching is crucial. When we see all of our students as incredible BECAUSE of there differences, it only makes sense to teach them in a way that celebrates these variations, as opposed to attempting to force one form of learning on them. To best do this in an effective way, I believe children need a range of teaching methods in a classroom, including everything from hands-on learning to experiential learning, all building upon the knowledge they construct on their own. Using the constructivist method, I believe students are best able to fully digest information and process in ways that they can truly comprehend and retain.
I firmly believe that children are happiest, most creative and learn most effectively when given the opportunity to explore new information on their own and process it in the ways more naturally suited to them. For this reason, differentiating teaching methods are an essential aspect of how I will reach my classroom goals. No two learners are the same, but the outcome and amount that they learn can ultimately be when we hold them to high standards and allow them to do so naturally.
There are two other key elements that I believe must be part of every child's educational experience. First, they must have a committed and caring teacher who is consistently there to offer support, love and high expectations in the classroom. They must also have a teacher who embraces not only the student, but the student's family, culture and entire community. It's through this that students and teachers can establish the kind of relationship that allows for lifelong impact.
Finally, as technology becomes increasingly important and common in our country, I believe it's absolutely crucial to develop students abilities to navigate the internet and social media for both fun and education. Exposing them to these resources and allowing them to learn through hands-on experience, enables them to stay up to speed with students who have access to technology on a regular basis. Although this may seem progressive, my intention is that every single day in the classroom, technology will be used (by both the teacher and the students) at least half of the time.