MY PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING & LEARNING

Learning has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. Being an English learner has made me a life-learner. I had to learn how to speak a second language and learn how to live in a new country. I believe that this experience helped me understand that you can't go far without learning. Now that I'm teaching, I want my students to know that having the privilege of learning new things is something that you can't take for granted.

My aspiration as a teacher is to promote life-long learning for all my students. I believe that life-long learning is essential for students because it can become the driving force that motivates them to pursue higher studies and a better life for themselves.

When I started working in the field of education four years ago, I began as a substitute teacher for the 6th-grade Spanish class at Taos Middle School. This experience helped me realize that teaching was the career that I wanted to pursue because I love working with kids. My objective as a teacher is to provide opportunities for my students to learn and be able to motivate them to find what interests them and guide them through the learning process.

I feel that I must motivate my students towards a level of independence where they can develop a desire to learn for themselves. To make this possible, I plan to create a learning environment where they feel safe and where learning can be exciting and meaningful.

I strongly believe in collaboration because it creates a community of learners. I think that to be an effective teacher; we must integrate instruction and incorporate opportunities for more learning. One of my favorite things to use in my classroom is thematic units that create real-world context. I believe that it strengthens the students learning experience, and it engages them in complex thinking and it teaches them to work together.

Teaching is a learning field, not only for the students but also for the teachers. As a teacher, it is my responsibility to make sure that my students are learning under the best conditions possible. I believe that a key element to be an effective teacher is to be able to adapt and find your own teaching techniques and style.