Who Am I?
My name is Andrew Oechsner and I am 20 years old. I was born and raised here in Virginia Beach, VA. Growing up in Virginia Beach, I naturally loved the outdoors. I grew up playing just about every sport. I do not play as much as I once did, but I still watch sports all the time. I also love the beach. I graduated from Ocean Lakes high school, where I was in the Math and Science Academy. The Virginia Beach school system is full of great teachers that have made a big impact on my life. I have always loved school and the relationships I was able to build that will last a lifetime. These great teachers have inspired me to become a teacher as well in order to give back to the city that made me into the man I am today. I hope to inspire the next generation of teachers to come by creating a welcoming environment for all in my classroom.
What I Know
While I may not have any experience teaching, I have gone to school for the last 15 years. In this time I have witnessed a lot and I like to think I have learned a thing or two from my experiences. In order for students to learn, it is up to the teacher to create an environment where every student feels welcomed and comfortable. Student interaction must be encouraged and no one should be afraid of being wrong. I am an open minded individual, which is very important in todays age.
What I Have to Learn
I need to learn how to create an effective lesson plan. Lesson plans that keep students engaged and motivated. It is important teachers create lesson plans that allow the students to enjoy class. I also need to learn classroom management. A teacher must have the respect of their students in order to create a great learning environment. I want to have that respect without being a strict teacher.
The Teacher I Will Become
In my opinion, the point of school is to develop young minds to think critically and fail forward. Problem solving is one of the most important abilities to have and it is valued heavily in the work force. Students must also be comfortable enough to try new things and be okay with failing because that is how you learn. These two ideas will be the pillars of my classroom. I will also emphasize building relationships and working as a team. After graduating high school, I value the relationships i built more than anything and I believe having these people you can rely on everyday makes learning more enjoyable. In order to encourage team work, the desks in my classroom will be in clusters of 3-4 and I will allow plenty of time for the groups to work together on classwork and problem solve as a team. Of course I will be there to guide their discussions and keep everyone on task. My teaching philosophy is very progressive as I value individual growth and development of character. I am the farmer that plants his seeds at the beginning of the year and waters them throughout the year and watch them blossom.
Leave any comments below!
Hey Andrew! I love your About the Author page. I also agree that students just first feel comfortable and welcomed. This makes them feel good about learning. I also like how you mentioned that you wanted to make sure your lesson plans keeps them engaged because this will make learning fun.
-Ashleigh Felton
Hi Andrew, I see you are a Greenbay fan. My boyfriend is also a diehard fan, and has been slowly converting me (haha). I also attend a separate school for a math and science program. We share a few of the same teaching ideas too: problem solving and progressivism. - Cassy Hixson
Hey Andrew, I am guessing you are somewhat of a soccer fan from the Croatian soccer jersey you have on in your Bitmoji, or your family is from Croatia which is cool too. I agree with you what you said in your what I know section when you say you want your students to not be afraid to be wrong. I think it is good for your students to be comfortable in that way because to many students are afraid they might be ridiculed if they where to say something wrong.-Isaiah Allen