I am a PreK-4 teacher who focuses on future-ready goals to create world citizens within my classroom through experiential learning and whole-student approaches. I am certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid and have proven myself as an educator that not only focuses on the student, but also encourages them to achieve academic excellence by producing above average scores on formative assessments.
Teaching Philosophy
Relationships are what shape the classroom culture. How a student feels when they walk into the classroom, what they expect, and how they interact with you as their teacher is the most important thing. I did my capstone on focusing on the most impactful ways to reach students, and I pride myself on being able to help even the most unmotivated learners in my classrooms.
You as a teacher, and as a student, can feel the energy of a classroom the moment you step into it. The way the lights are turned, the way that the desks welcome or prohibit you from innovative learning, and the integration of the teacher’s desk. These are all things that are important to me. In my experiences, I have been able to see a wide variety of these various methods, and I notice one thing. Most classrooms clearly have the separation of roles. In my classroom, we learn as a group and they know that there are times where even I as the teacher am learning too. The inclusion of every single student is what makes me want to teach.
The ability to create inventive learning in an engaging environment by utilizing new techniques, trying out methods, and sticking with what works for my students is why I continue to learn everyday as a teacher myself. I find that when students are asking questions, they are finding ways to relate their learning to themselves. I encourage questioning, and often have posters where students can write down questions that they have. Keeping students curious is another way I create this welcoming environment.
I believe that if we as educators stop viewing our jobs as jobs, and start viewing them as journeys with our students, we can all learn something everyday. Your students should never be the only ones learning in a classroom. As the proverb says, “curiosity killed the cat.” Many don’t know that it often ends with “but satisfaction brought it back.” In my classrooms we stay curious.