The core of my teaching philosophy comes from the belief that all children have the ability to learn and succeed. As an educator, my goal is to create a learning environment where all students feel safe to express themselves and take risks with their learning. My teaching practice is based on differentiated instruction, a positive classroom environment, and collaboration.
I believe that students learn best when instruction is differentiated and student-centered. In my classroom, I use a variety of data points to help drive my instruction and group students based on ability. During small group time, each student is working on a specific reading activity tailored to their individual skills, to meet them where they are at and help them continue to progress. Differentiated instruction can mean a lot of different things in my classroom and includes making sure the needs of all students are met, including the use of aids and supports as seen in IEPs.
I also believe that students learn best in an environment where they feel safe and supported. This starts on day one and continues until the end of the year. In my classroom, I make a big effort to get to know each individual student, their interests, and to show them that they matter. In my classroom, I also believe that morning meeting is a big part of creating a positive classroom community and allowing each student the opportunity to share. One of my favorite activities to promote a positive classroom environment is creating classroom norms as a whole group. By doing this, the students feel heard, and we can create an environment of mutual respect.
My teaching practice is also centered around the idea of collaboration. Whether that be the students collaborating and sharing ideas for a project, or teachers and school staff collaborating to problem solve, working together can lead to a ton of success in the school community. In my classroom, I use quick methods like turn and talk to allow students to share their thoughts. When done the correct way, students can expand their thinking and work through different solutions together. When adults collaborate in a school setting, we can bring new ideas to the table about assessments, student success, and a variety of other topics.
In the classroom, no two days are the same, and teaching can be quite unpredictable. I feel that regardless of the constant changes, having these core ideas in place can help lead to a successful school year.