Teaching Philosophy
- It is safe and encourages risk taking
- There is a partnership among students, teacher, and families to encourage learning and growth
- It is orderly, with a focus on pro-social behavior and on learning.
- There is respect for everyone and an appreciation for the classroom’s cultural diversity
- Students have many different outlets to show mastery as it incorporates hands on, performance based assessments, and project based learning.
As the teacher, I have a different relationship with each student, as my students have different learning styles, personalities, and are at different levels. One type of behavior style may work for one personality, but not another. I know my students, their strengths, what motivates them, and what to say to them if they need encouragement. I also know their families, interests, and their concerns. Not only do I know my students' academic levels, but I know their personalities, and I have a positive relationship with each one.
Communication helps support my safe, respectful, and responsible classroom. It helps students’ families stay involved in their academic progression. I am a believer in good calls home, the first call to a parent should not be to discuss a negative event. I have a classroom website, and parents know I am available through phone and email. The website includes information about classroom activities, our weekly goals, upcoming events, and assignments where parents are invited into the classroom to engage their children in discussions about the current topic.
Children need to feel safe- physically, socially, and emotionally- in order to learn. I expect the students to act responsibly, respectfully, and safe. Students are aware of the classroom rules and routine. I believe in practicing positive reinforcement, consistently pointing out and praising positive behavior of students is key to setting an example. Students should not constantly be hearing what not to do, but seeing visuals, examples, and modeling what to do. Start from the beginning, on the first day of school model positive student behavior when creating the classroom rules as a class. Students will also come up with the consequences of breaking the safe, responsible, and respectful rules. Respect others’ cultures, beliefs, ideas, and backgrounds. My classroom is open-minded. Students should not be afraid to make a mistake or ask a question because they are in a safe, judge free zone, and we encourage diversity!
While creating a classroom environment reflective of all these characteristics is not easy, and takes much time and practice, I believe creating a classroom that promotes tolerance and meaningful learning is critical.
Name | Hours | Description | Date |
Social/Emotional Climate | 1.5 | Presenter described techniques to effectively communicate with students in all types of emotionally-driven situations. Presenter demonstrated day to day interactions and their effects on students and adults. | 8/11/15 |
Effective Instruction | 1 | Teachers reviewed best practices for instruction from design, implementation, through management and assessment. | 8/12/15 |
Behavior Management | 2 | Teachers learned best practices for behavior management. Teachers revised personal classroom management plans to incorporate newly attained techniques. | 8/13/15 |
Epipen/STLS Training | 1.5 | Teachers were trained on when/how to administer an Epipen. Teachers were trained on the effects and resources for students/families in the Students in Temporary Living Situations Program. | 8/13/15 |
Mangahigh | 1 | Teachers were trained on how to use the Mangahigh effectively with students. The website was demonstrated as an enrichment/reteach tool as well as an on level resource for whole group learning. | 8/26/2015 |
Technology Incorporation with IPADS | 1 | Teachers were given a selection of apps to try in their classroom to help enrich subject areas or class organization. The resources ranged from everyday use to large project use. Teachers were then given the opportunity to investigate and create activities with the websites. | 10/28/15 |
Martin Luther King Jr. | 1 | Teachers learned who Martin Luther King Jr. was, including his philosophy/vision. Teachers created lessons to teach for MLK day. | 12/9/15 |
Literacy and Independent Reading | 1 | Teachers were taught the importance of independent reading and how to incorporate it within their daily routines. | 1/13/16 |
Guided Reading | 1 | Teachers were taught the importance of Guided reading and how to incorporate it within their daily routines. | 2/17/16 |
Classroom Climate | 1 | Teachers learned about how to develop a positive classroom climate. They also collaborated on strategies dealing with difficult behaviors. | 4/27/16 |
Autism | 1 | Teachers learned the symptoms of autism, the triggers of certain symptoms, and methods of teaching a student with autism. | 4/27/16 |
CCSS Math | 2 | Teachers learned some tricks and classroom habits that can improve or enhance their teaching within CCSS. | 5/4/16 |
Wonders Writing | 1.5 | Teachers were trained on Wonders tools and techniques to use for writing in the classroom throughout ELA instruction. | 6/1/16 |