Philosophy Statements

I believe that kids will do well when they can. My take on Dr. Ross Greene's "Kids will do well if they can," reinforces the idea that all kids can be successful. There is so much that students go through before they arrive in our classrooms each day, ranging from taking care of their grown-ups to waking up late. Taking care of a student's needs is the key to unlocking their path to education. If that means taking the lesson a little slower or repeating directions, I can slow down. If that means taking time for a mindful moment and talking about how I deal with stress, I can do that. When you can break down the barriers around a student's education, you allow them to access their learning, take ownership of it, and create life-long learners. Additionally, building relationships with your students will make guiding them through their obstacles, and identifying those obstacles, possible. Relationships are the foundation for which you can build an amazing successful student. 

Relationships matter. If the COVID-19 Pandemic has taught us anything, it is that a relationship can take you a long way.  Building relationships with your students will allow you not only to know them better but to teach them better. It will allow you a starting place when talking with their parents. It will broaden your horizons and perspectives. Relationships and teaching students how to build their own and manage them are skills that they will use and grow for the rest of their lives. Teaching without building a relationship is like opening a restaurant that doesn't take credit cards. Will some people still visit and eat? Of course, but will you reach everyone that you were hoping to? Definitely not. 

When it comes to technology, I believe it is an important tool for the classroom. Students should learn and explore with technology and take the opportunity to be creative. However, technology should amplify learning, not act as a replacement or take the focus of the learning away from the skills and content intended. Technology can open so many doors for students; giving them background knowledge, allowing them to be creative in a different way, becoming problem solvers, giving them choice. Technology has been the scapegoat for lack of student attention or it becomes the upgraded version of pencils and paper. I agree that typing skills are important, but that should not be the extent of your or your students' technology use. It is important to try something new and live in the uncomfortableness of figuring out the unknown. Not only will it help you grow, but it will remind you how it will feel for your students.