My goal in teaching is to create opportunities of long-term growth and success for my students. Ultimately, these goals work through the classroom and beyond. I do this through critical, authentic learning paired with high expectations and respect in the classroom. My students understand the skills and knowledge they earn from our class are relevant to their lives.
The most important lesson I have learned in teaching is the individuality of each student is the most important factor to consider in teaching. Understanding the importance of student individuality is present in the professional manner I show with other teachers, administrators, parents, and students. Working together respectfully is something I strive for everyday.
One of the most important pieces of my personality is my love for music. Through writing music, I have learned how to prepare myself creatively and effectively. For instance, I joined a songwriting group where I was one of the two remaining members who achieved recognition for writing a song per week for the year of 2014. I understand how my students have their own motivations and passions and it is necessary for the teacher to work with this understanding in mind. Therefore, our classroom is student-driven. This means that I can make learning real for my students by incorporating things they are passionate about.
One of the main takeaways I wish my students to achieve out of this class is: your voice matters. As a democratic society, engaging history and current events means your individual and critical perspective is necessary. Our classroom fosters an environment to hone your voice. Although this will be a challenging year, it will be one of distinct, positive growth.