MY EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

          I believe in a holistic and democratic approach to education. Holistic education develops not only the mind, but the body and spirit as well.  In my classroom I want to encourage holistic learning by incorporating diverse methods such as movement, music, play, and “hands-on” experiences into the academics. I think people learn best when new information and skills are well integrated into their life experiences. Therefore, I strive to give my lessons a meaningful context within today’s world and within the individual lives of the children. I present Spanish within a cultural context, connecting the language to related topics such as politics, literature, and globalization. I try to emphasize the many exciting career and travel possibilities available to bilingual speakers, highlighting foreign language skills as an integral part of cultural sensitivity, diplomacy, and the preservation of diversity and peace. I encourage my students to use their language skills to better understand and serve our local Spanish speaking community, and I am available to arrange and facilitate appropriate volunteer activities.

Furthermore, I feel that education should be a democratic process, which balances the individual needs with the needs of the group.  A democratic approach, which considers the interests and opinions of the students and parents as well as the faculty, is key to creating a curriculum that is meaningful for the children.  I want to consider the needs, abilities and talents of each individual student and do my best to help them attain their educational goals.  If the students are active participants in the design and implementation of the curriculum they will be more motivated to learn and they will gain greater confidence in relation to group dynamics, including consensus building, compromise, active listening and mutual respect.  My belief in a holistic and democratic education is a reflection of my hopes for the future.  I feel that children educated in this manner will develop into compassionate, intelligent adults capable of affecting positive change in our world.