I am an enthusiastic teacher who enjoys seeing others love learning. It is my desire to impart my passion for learning to my students as to make a positive impression on their lives. If they display a weakness in a particular academic area, it is my aim to find high interest activities that reflect their strengths in order to motivate their learning.
Upon entering my classroom one will find warmth, comfort, patience, humor, and a friendly environment. I model and encourage manners and appropriate social interactions with adults as well as peers. The behavioral and academic expectations set forth are achievable for all learners. The learning environment is risk free; students "turn and talk" freely expressing their opinions and thought processes. This risk free discourse allows children the room to grow emotionally and intellectually. Having children turn and talk to a partner builds confidence and a comfort level that puts working minds at ease. Their meaningful talk is supported with positive reinforcement and therefore positive efforts are evident in my classroom.
Cooperative learning is encouraged daily. We grow and learn together. The students play an active role in the classroom. I model my thinking and then they share their thinking. Teaching is reciprocal. Lessons are carefully prepared and reflected on daily. I continually differentiate instruction to make lessons accessible and challenging for all students regardless of learning styles and levels of ability. I am always looking for new and exciting ways to launch writing and reading lessons.
One tool available to help scaffold lessons for the many diverse learning styles or needs of a child is technology. However, as Bill Gates once said, "Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important." I believe that all members of our classroom community need to be motivated and work together to tap the full potential of this tool. Technology is a resource to assist students in their learning by helping them see and understand the realworld. Children who are not exposed to new information can be informed through technology. This technology can be utilized as an instrument to aid their prior knowledge. Through technology students become more involved in their own learning.
In this digital age, it is important to stress the new literacies students will be required to use throughout their lives. As Dr. Donald Leu, a renowned expert in literacy and technology, states, "To be newly literate means to take advantage of the information resources that are on the Internet, and that requires new reading and writing skills." Teaching these new reading and writing skills requires new and innovative strategies. As part of my professional development, I hope to learn about these new literacies and explore strategies to help my students acquire skills that will lead to their future success. I will then be closer to my evolving goal of preparing students for success in our world.