Teaching Philosophy

The Environmental Leadership Program has provided me with experiences that have helped me to step out of my comfort zone and guided me within learning how to teach children. I have gained confidence in facilitating while being able to have fun when teaching. During my first week of classroom lessons and field trips, it was challenging to be confident within myself as a leader. I use teaching styles and create classroom environments that welcome all children of all backgrounds, providing them with a sense of belonging, safety and inclusion. I treat my students with respect through supportive conversations and positive encouragement. This program was not only enriching for the children, but for me as well. In the beginning of this process, I wondered if the children would be able to appreciate nature in the same ways as I do. For example I love going on nature walks. I love the quiet moments, and I love finding the smallest things that can go undetected when you’re in a hurry. I was so pleased to see the children finding excitement in the smallest things on our hikes. These uneventful moments, made me realize how important it is to be present and listen carefully to what the children were noticing and finding. Through engaging and interdisciplinary lessons and activities children have gained knowledge on the seasons and how ecosystems and organisms change throughout the seasons. During our field trips at Mt. Pisgah Arboretum, the children get to participate in sit-spots where they all get to spend 10 minutes reflecting on their surroundings in nature making scientific observations. There have been a few times where some of the children seem to be discontent with sitting and writing or drawing their observations in their nature journals during these sit-spots. In situations like this, I sit with them and ask them what they are noticing. If they still persist that they “don’t see anything”, it is a profound learning moment for myself. These situations remind me that it is not necessarily due to them “not seeing anything”, but oftentimes it is them not feeling comfortable to write or draw. To exemplify inclusion and excitement for the outdoors, I then ask them to tell me what they are seeing, and then I will ask if it's okay if I draw/write it for them. I saw how important it is to build safe and nurturing relationships with the children I'm working with and to model how to appreciate with words and drawings the beautiful surroundings we find ourselves in. I learned how the significance of creating lessons that are inclusive and show excitement and wonder for the outdoors. A leader's job is to help children find their strength, build their confidence and honor their insights. I have learned how to support children individually, in groups, and I've learned to recognize their strengths and give them guidance when needed. Working with children is remarkable and led me to a profound revelation. Children don't contemplate whether climate change is real, they just know that taking care of the planet is a good thing. Environmental Education is impactful in early childhood development, and I have learned how to guide children to be aware of nature and its life cycles.