My philosophy of teaching is demonstrated in my classroom in several ways. I believe all students must experience success when it comes to learning, and each child is different as to how he or she accomplishes this. Teaching and learning go hand in hand, and to be an effective educator, one must realize this underlying theme. When a student experiences success in a classroom, he or she is intrinsically motivated to move forward, be inquisitive, and heighten specific goals. It is our responsibility as teachers to make this happen.
In my classroom, I am constantly trying to provide real life experiences students can relate to and apply to their learning. Labs are an essential component to the science class; they help build a bridge between concepts learned from the textbook and actual occurrences in the children’s’ lives. In addition to labs, I try to provide as many hands-on activities as possible. Students are more responsive when their learning is experiential, not concentrated on rote memorization of facts and concepts.
Effective teachers help students take responsibility for their own learning. Students must be responsible citizens in the classroom in order to succeed. I encourage students to communicate with one another in positive ways. In order to know my students, I engage them in dialogue about their personal interests and lifelong goals. I strive to instill a sense of community and active involvement with all of my classes.
Each day as teachers, we encounter students who possess social, emotional, and physical tribulations. When these students are not performing and demonstrating their potential, it is up to me to delve deep and try to understand why. What can I do to alleviate these obstacles and help students foster cognitively and emotionally?
Actions such as coming to school early and leaving late each afternoon to offer extra help in science produce positive results.
Parental involvement and communication is crucial to providing a conducive learning environment for our students. Many parents want to be involved and want to have their ideas and emotions validated. I encourage parents to visit the classroom, call me at school or home, and come in for conferences. Teachers need feedback from parents, administrators, and their peers to promote reflections and encourage success.
Each child succeeds in various ways. Effective teachers must be aware of the various learning styles and multiple intelligences within the classroom, and cater to each. This entails differentiated instruction, various learning tasks, and positive reinforcement from teachers and role models.