Pedagogical Literacy Statement

Through my learning I have discovered that literacy is an essential aspect of not just school, but our everyday lives. It is very difficult for individuals to function in society if they do not know how to read or write, and it is my responsibility as an educator to provide my students with the things they need to thrive when they leave my classroom. I am committed to helping my students be productive members of society, and one way I can do this is by ensuring that I am providing them with high quality literacy instruction that is based in science. Another way that I can do that will benefit my students is exposing them to a wide range of complex literature that represents their own experiences and the experiences of others. I feel passionate about language development and literacy and am excited to implement what I have learned into my classroom! 

The Teacher as a Gardener

As I progress in my education and look forward to my career as an educator my philosophy regarding teaching is forming. The experiences I have had as a child in school, along with my time spent as a teacher candidate, have contributed to my beliefs about teaching. I enjoy gardening and can see many similarities between what a gardener does for their garden and what a teacher does for their students. I believe the purpose of education is to nurture the student's ability to contribute positively to society and to foster a love for learning

It is clear to me that my role as a teacher will not be to force learning on to my students and rather to create an environment for them in which learning can occur. Without the care of a gardener seeds would not be able to grow and develop and teachers must provide their students with things like care, independence, and the tools for learning. After seeds have grown and can be pulled out of the soil they no longer need the gardener to nurture them, this is similar with students. I do not want my students to be reliant on me and instead I want them to grow in to independent beings. As Dr. Montessori says, what the child experiences "form part of [their] soul" and I look forward to having a positive influence on the lives of my students.