Mrs. Dilts' Teaching Philosophy:
No two individuals are alike. This means that no two students learn in the exact same way. Each student brings unique qualities and strengths to the classroom. As a teacher it is important to understand each student as an individual and to make connections with those individuals. Doing so allows teachers to best differentiate learning by utilizing their students’ personal strengths and interests, subsequently enhancing student engagement in what is being taught. Every student is capable of learning when provided with the proper tools, direction, and motivation suited for their unique self.
Family involvement is key. Creating and maintaining positive relationships with the families of students helps teachers to develop a deeper understanding of each child's interests, strengths, and needs. Teachers should communicate with students’ families often, sharing what is being taught in the classroom on a weekly basis. This weekly communication provides families with insight in order to encourage, support, and extend learning at home when an opportunity arises. Creating positive relationships with families can also help avoid undesired behaviors while increasing student achievement.
We should all strive to be lifelong learners. It is a teacher’s job to encourage students to want to learn. The first step in promoting lifelong learning is to make connections. It can be difficult to motivate students to recognize real-world application when teaching abstract topics. Showing connections between classroom topics and real life scenarios or personal experiences enhances student engagement and motivation. Teaching is a learning experience. I also strive to be a lifelong learner who embraces ways of improving teaching practices in order to provide my students with the best education possible.
We should promote positive learning environments. Rather than having school be a place where children feel forced to be each day, I strive to create a place where students are excited to come and learn. I believe that positivity is a powerful tool for success. By creating classroom responsibilities rather than rules, and by rewarding desired behavior rather than focusing on undesired behavior, I plan to create the optimal learning environment where students feel safe and welcome.
Assessment driven instruction can support successful learning outcomes. Using multiple forms of data collection and assessment results can drastically improve student achievement. Utilizing formative assessment prior to teaching can help to determine current student knowledge as well as where more detailed instruction needs to occur. Formative assessments that I used during my student teaching experience include conversations, observations, and brief worksheets. I have also used summative assessment results to analyze growth, and to determine where or if re-teaching is necessary.
