Teaching Philosophy
As a teacher, I hope to find a universal design for learning that will accommodate each and every student without sacrificing the care and attention for each individual. An educator’s goal should be to not only help students understand the required curriculum, but to help shape them as members of society. Fostering critical thinking, self-governance, and equal access prepares students for being active involved in a democratic society. Each student is coming into the classroom at a different point in life and education; it is my goal to meet the students where they are and help them grow.
Student-centered learning is one of the most effective ways to promote critical thinking and self-governance. Activating students as the owner of their learning will promote intrinsic motivation that can help them progress for their entire lives. Additionally, prompting students to work collaboratively enables them to draw on each other as a resource and promotes necessary social skills. Based on the constructivist theory, students are building their knowledge upon their prior experiences and information; we should use this to its full potential. Using research-based activities that enable students to think critically and construct their own knowledge will be more meaningful and memorable for the students.
In creating any assessment to measure the effectiveness of instruction, it is important to have a clear goal for what the students should know and be able to do. Personal portfolios are an excellent way to track student growth and communicate this progress with students. Allowing students to plot their performance enables them to set goals for themselves and self-govern the direction of their education. Providing meaningful feedback often shows students where they are excelling and where they should strive to improve.
I hope that my students will ultimately view the classroom as a community where they are supported by their peers and have a say in their education. I am there to facilitate learning and provide opportunities for students to construct meaningful knowledge.
Student-centered learning is one of the most effective ways to promote critical thinking and self-governance. Activating students as the owner of their learning will promote intrinsic motivation that can help them progress for their entire lives. Additionally, prompting students to work collaboratively enables them to draw on each other as a resource and promotes necessary social skills. Based on the constructivist theory, students are building their knowledge upon their prior experiences and information; we should use this to its full potential. Using research-based activities that enable students to think critically and construct their own knowledge will be more meaningful and memorable for the students.
In creating any assessment to measure the effectiveness of instruction, it is important to have a clear goal for what the students should know and be able to do. Personal portfolios are an excellent way to track student growth and communicate this progress with students. Allowing students to plot their performance enables them to set goals for themselves and self-govern the direction of their education. Providing meaningful feedback often shows students where they are excelling and where they should strive to improve.
I hope that my students will ultimately view the classroom as a community where they are supported by their peers and have a say in their education. I am there to facilitate learning and provide opportunities for students to construct meaningful knowledge.