My Philosophy
My philosophy of teaching has evolved over many years of teaching experience. As I reflected on my beliefs regarding teaching and learning, I found that I have three core beliefs:
--to promote a safe, nurturing, and educationally rich environment where
the growth and development of every child can be facilitated
--to spark enthusiasm for learning
--to provide a strong foundation for lifelong learning
Each child in my class is unique in terms of background, beliefs, and abilities,
and therefore all students do not learn in the same way. It is my job to
do all that I can in every way possible to meet their needs and enable
them to
be successful in an ever changing world. A nurturing environment governed
by respect and caring where the students feel safe to take risks, ask questions,
and try new things as a community of learners is vital. Every student in
my
classroom, regardless of ability, is valuable. All children can learn from
each other regardless of ability or handicap. With that in mind, my 5th
grade students are “buddies” with a classroom of first graders.
We get together twice per month to read books, play games, share writing
projects,
etc. Caring and compassion for others are life-long necessities in this
world. Because I believe a classroom should be an educationally rich place
filled
with warmth, light, color, books, technology, and all the other tools needed
to encourage learning, I work hard to create that environment for my students.
There are many ways to spark enthusiasm for learning. With so many distractions
to student learning, as a teacher, I need every tool and technique available.
While I stay focused on the curriculum standards, I believe it is vital
to plan lessons that meet a wide variety of learning styles throughout
a unit
of study. Hands on activities, individual and collaborative projects, writings,
discussions, websites, review games, online tests, novels, and more are
part of my lessons. Textbooks can be one, but not the only, tool in my
classroom
environment. Another important tool for learning is technology. Computers
play an integral role in the education of students today. My students are
digital
natives who have always grown up with technology, so it is a solid part
of their day-to-day lives. It holds their attention and can engage them
in active
learning. I draw on their enthusiasm by using computers throughout the
school day for research, blogging, web-based activities, webquests, online
reviews
and tests using Quia, Inspiration webs, iMovies, PowerPoints, podcasts,
etc. My students are actively learning and practicing the standards while
meeting
my expectations.
Learning is a life-long process. The role of a teacher is to not only provide
knowledge and facilitate learning for their students, but also to be a
lifelong student, forever discovering new information that will help them
better serve
themselves and their students. Recently I’ve been sharing my learning
experiences with my students as I work on my master’s degree. They
relish hearing about my homework, test grades, and assignments. Knowing
that I struggle
with some assignments too, yet keep on trying, helps my students see that
they can do the same. Each day my students and I learn something new. I
encourage
them to share their discoveries with me as I do with them. I hope my excitement
for learning comes across to them and will be something they remember as
they grow up. Learning really is fun!
The Teaching Profession
The teaching profession is a vocation second only to parenting in its importance
to our children. It requires a passion and commitment that is difficult for
others to understand. Everyday, I affect the future. A teacher is a teacher
24/7- that is the beauty and the challenge that must be embraced to be successful.
On a personal level, I strengthen and improve the teaching profession by
strengthening and improving my own skills and abilities. While I honor the
best of education’s
teaching practices, I’m also open to new methods to reach students. I
perpetually monitor and evaluate my methodology in order to make adjustments
to better reach my students. I treat my students, parents, colleagues, and
the community with all the dignity and respect possible and let them know that
I truly love my profession. I try to always be a positive role model and an
advocate for public education. While continuing to further my own knowledge,
I also facilitate workshops and mini sessions for my school district and have
presented sessions at the TIE Conference. I serve on curriculum and other committees
for the district, including the recent technology plan committee. I have voluntarily
mentored new teachers in my building and I am a member of my professional education
organization. I try to always be the teacher that I would want my own children
to have.
With No Child Left Behind, accountability is the optimal word. Teachers are
not afraid of being held accountable. Teachers teach to the curriculum
standards and don’t mind being held accountable for them. The concern is the power
that one paper-pencil test now has to affect the lives of our children. They
are human beings with all the quirks, problems, joys, and sorrows that being
human entails. Children must be accepted, nurtured, and educated regardless
of background or ability. I strongly believe that one must employ numerous
options to accurately assess the understanding of course content among diverse
groups of learners. In my classroom I have developed various assessments from
projects, rubrics, checklists, portfolios, and presentations to traditional
tests. I am also confident in my district’s commitment to a teacher evaluation
process and have participated in the development of that assessment tool. The
evaluation process for our teachers is multi-layered and incorporates three
divergent styles. This process holds teachers accountable, but does not base
salaries on a one-time test of student scores.
In conclusion, I cannot imagine being anything other than a teacher. Teaching
and learning are my passion and joy. The rewards are too numerous to mention.
It has been my calling since I was a very young child, playing school in
my grandmother’s basement. She was a teacher also and even though she is
no longer living, I feel her presence every day when I walk into my classroom.