My Teaching Philosophy
I believe that it is important to provide a secure, caring, and stimulating environment in which my students are able to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, and socially. I believe that when students have a secure, caring, and stimulating environment, they are capable of reaching their fullest potential. Exceptional classroom management skills are crucial for setting a foundation for a productive learning environment. Expectations and procedures should be clear and consistent so that learning can take place. I believe in providing opportunities for students to share their ideas in a cooperative learning environment. I also believe in providing my students guidance that will allow their natural curiosity to shape their learning. Engagement is a very important aspect of teaching. Students who are fully engaged in a learning environment will want to learn more and take responsibility for their own work. It is important for teachers to respect students and in turn, the students learn to respect their peers, teachers, and the world around them. I also believe that I am a life-long learner, always striving to learn and grow as well. Instilling this belief in my students so that they too become life-long learners will benefit them throughout their lives.
"The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think—rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with the thoughts of other men." John Dewey
"If kids come to us [educators / teachers] from strong, healthy functioning families, it makes our job easier. If they do not come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families, it makes our job more important.” Barbara Coloroso