My Philosophy

“Children must be taught HOW TO THINK, not what to think.”

                                                                                   ~Margaret Mead

 Education and ideas of learning have changed and evolved over the years. Long gone are the days of paper, pencil, and spoon-feeding information to students only to have them regurgitate back the “knowledge” without regard or thought as to what was learned and how it can be useful.

 Today, it is important to recognize that students learn in many different ways. Knowing that students learn in different ways, it is my responsibility to find ways to entertain, engage, and educate.  I need to make a connection with my students and find a variety of ways to approach all tasks even though they may be tedious, arduous, or interesting. When I grab their attention, and they want to participate, the learning will happen.

 For my students and me, failure is an option. It would be arrogant to assume that every lesson is effective. I cannot expect that every student under my instruction will be an exceptional learner and student. If I am not successful, then I need to make changes as to how I present the information. Some achievements will be measured by students’ grades, but some will be gauged by improvements in attitude and effort. I want students to understand that it is OK to fail because it is through downfalls that they can learn tenacity, determination, and needed skills.

I believe that education’s purpose is to prepare students for life, in general. When asked, “When am I going to use what we’re learning?” My answer is always, “Probably never.” My goal is to guide them to become problem solvers, to persevere through issues that seem insurmountable, and persistent in their efforts. With these qualities, they can be successful in any task or position they undertake. Because of this, my role is to guide students, offer encouragement and assistance, console the errors, and celebrate the successes.