| My Philosophy of Teaching |
| I believe children learn best when they are given opportunities to actively construct their knowledge within a meaningful context. I understand that children develop in predictable sequences, yet each child is unique in his/her abilities, interests and cultural backround. I beleive in respecting children and in giving them choices. My classroom is child-centerd. I try to promote a warm and sensitive "climate", where children feel safe to take risks. I value children as unique individuals. I value play in young children's learning. I know there are many ways for children to express their feelings, ideas, and understandings of the world. As a teacher, I beieive myself to be a "co-researcher" or a guide, working right along with the children. My job is to "draw out" children's ideas instead of "filling them up" with my ideas. I believe in provoking children's thinking and natural curiosity by by providing materials and experiences that allow them to investigate and make sense of their own world. I value families and believe that teachers should make great efforst to form strong links between home, school and the community. I believe in ongoing assessment through the use of portfolios that gather data based on notes, anecdotal records of observation, photographs and children's work. Assessments are used to help plan and implement appropriate learning activities based on the needs of the children. Finally, I believe that learning should be fun!!! By implementing lessons that allow children to be actively involved as they develop their own autonomy and motivation, I hope to foster the desire for life long learning! |