All students deserve an equal opportunity to learn in the general education classroom with appropriate supports to make them successful learners. Each student brings a unique perspective to the classroom and should have the opportunity to participate with their peers throughout the day to share their experiences and develop a feeling of community within their class. My main goal as a learning support teacher is to provide the skills in my classroom that will aid student success in the general education classroom.
I believe study skills are vital to the success of a student in the public school system. In my classroom I teach skills in time management, planning, and organization, as well as notetaking and study techniques to ensure that students have the basic skills they need to facilitate their success in general education classes. I do this through various classroom activities involving Standard 13 of the Pennsylvania State Standards as well as problem-based learning (PBL) and techniques like the SOAR method (Selection, Organization, Association, Regulation). These lessons will involve hands-on learning and practical application of the activities and techniques in students' everyday lives.
I want students to feel comfortable participating in class and taking risks, recognizing that it is ok to not always know the correct answer, but to try anyway. I will encourage them to think creatively about problems so that they are better equipped to think critically outside of the classroom. I will strive to create a physical environment of comradery in my classroom by organizing the desks and tables in a collaborative format, but also providing individual desk areas for those who need less distraction to complete their work. I will set clear rules and expectations for behavior, but also let the students interact with each other to foster group cohesion. Collaboration and working with different personalities will be important for the students’ success both inside and outside of the classroom. I aim to create positive relationships with my students by greeting each of them at the beginning of class every day and taking an interest in their lives and activities.
I am aware of my limitations as a teacher and am committed to continuously learning and improving my teaching skills. I will prepare for class and use proven methods of teaching to enhance student learning, not just methods that I find comfortable. I will do everything I can to remove roadblocks for my students, but also teach them how to be successful in real world situations. I will treat each student as the unique individual that they are, and I will gauge my success as a teacher through the success of my students.