Teaching Philosophy

As an educator my goal is to create an equitable, inclusive and safe community for my students. The classroom is a space where students are able to express themselves and speak freely without fear of judgement. Creating a community for students will give them the  opportunity to grow and flourish not only in the classroom but in the outside world as well.

I take a student centered approach in my teaching practice. It is my belief that the role of a teacher is to act as a guide. Each classroom community is unique and will have a varying degree of needs. The degree and variety of need in the classroom is constantly in flux. In order to ensure all needs are met it is important for the teacher to truly hear each student to understand how to better guide the classroom community. Additionally, In order to know how to best differentiate instruction it is crucial to really know your students. 

The most valuable  approach that I have implemented is to create positive connections with each student. Taking time out of the day to get to know your students has been the most effective classroom management strategy I have used. Students take notice when you remember their likes, their dislikes, and their stories. When students feel seen and heard they will feel connected to the classroom. This will improve their performance and participation. 

As an educator I believe it is important to have a reflective practice when teaching. Even when you believe you have taught the perfect lesson, there are always points to think back on. It is important that we learn from every day in our career, that we reflect and think “how could I have done that better”. Even on my best day there is always room for improvement. As a person, as a teacher I am a firm believer in the growth mindset. Much growth can be obtained through personal reflection.

The profession of teaching is a profession of lifelong learning. We continuously learn to keep our practice current, however we also  learn from our classroom and school community. We learn each day from the students we serve, their families, and our colleagues. Learning new concepts, philosophies and ideas only lead us to better ourselves as educators and gain a broader worldview.