Student Learning

Children (and adults) learn best when they can relate learning to their own personal experiences.  Knowledge merely for the sake of "knowing something" has little lasting value and is quickly forgotten.  Students can grasp concepts better when given tangible applications to real life situations.  This goes beyond merely imagining hypothetical examples.  Physical, active learning solidifies understanding in the student's mind.  Ultimately, it is important to understand that there is no one best way of learning common to all students.  Variety and flexibility are key elements in all instruction.

For me, the opportunity to reflect on my teaching is one of the exciting aspects of teaching.  There is always room for improvement; there are always opportunities to try different approaches.  I am continually aware of my students' needs and always seek the best way to address those needs.  Occasionally, this may require deviating from my plan or straying beyond my comfort level.  As a reflective teacher, I am willing to give and receive constructive criticism from myself, my students, my supervisors and my colleagues.

As a teacher, it is my duty to assess my students' progress in all stages of instruction.  I use several varieties of formative assessment to identify which teaching strategies are most effective, areas of weakness that need to be addressed and strong points which can be used to encourage students.  Summative assessment is carefully structured to align with the priorities and objectives of each lesson.  In response to No Child Left Behind, my exercises and tests are also designed to reflect the structure of standardized state assessments.

My classroom atmosphere is warm, congenial and based on respect.  I treat students with the same respect that I expect to receive from them.  As a result, students feel comfortable putting forth their best effort, making the occasional mistakes necessary for learning, seeking extra help when it is needed, and participating in all classroom activities.

In addition to the obvious aspects of professional dress and behavior, professionalism means setting an example for students as well as colleagues.  I intend to be a model teacher and citizen by cooperating with my fellow teachers, participating in professional development activities, and working with students, parents and administrators toward improvement of the school.