My objective as a teacher is to engage middle school students in the limitless possibilities mathematics and science have to offer. I believe the below-described principles will help me reach my objective.
Establishing a Classroom Community
It is paramount that students feel safe and important in our classroom. Students must not merely feel physically safe, but also feel safe to ask questions, to be creative, and to show enthusiasm. I will make sure each student feels his or her insights are valuable. From day one, my students and I will collaborate to create the class rules and expectations. I believe in taking time at the outset of the school year to foster a strong sense of community that will endure through the last day of school.
Aligned with the constructivist learning theory, I meet students where they are mentally. Building on what students already know and feel about education, I want to bring relevance to their education. By continually facilitating opportunities for students to connect the curriculum with the world around them, my aim is to help students develop a meaningful relationship with the material. For example, my students helped create a garden in on our urban school campus as part of our ecology unit.
Teaching to All Learners
The beauty and challenge of educating is that each student is unique; therefore, the way in which students learn vastly differs. I am committed to integrating multiple developmental levels into our classroom so that each student feels appropriately challenged and included. I will achieve this by understanding my students’ learning styles and differentiating my instruction. In addition, I will challenge students to learn in new ways to encourage growth, and to give my students a competitive edge in future educational settings.
For me, teaching is a constantly evolving process. But upholding these three core values allows me to stay focused on the people I educate. I would love to work in an environment that supports and shares these values.
In the midst of my 5th year of teaching middle school math and science, I continue to learn about the how culture and education are connected in context and how systems within schools work.
My teaching style uniquely borrows from kinesiology, real-world applications, and mindfulness practice. In addition, I value collaboration both for student learning and for professional growth. My goal is to strengthen my interdisciplinary approach to math and science education, and to truly connect with students.
I want to teach teachers and develop curriculum, while still remaining in the classroom teaching middle school students. I intend on pursuing my Ph.D. or Ed.D. toward that goal. Some experiences that I have had that demonstrate my intentions are:
- Presenting at the European League of Middle Level Educators (ELMLE) conference in January 2017 on Co-Teaching for ELL success. My presentation can be viewed here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XTDosDf6lg-787j9LK4utqoaaQJvngYFNzguJvlCFM8/edit#slide=id.g1ba1cbff00_0_0
- Conducting research at the International School of Latvia on 40 grade six students on the impact of targeted teaching methods on growth mindset. I am using a tool created by Carol Dweck and Khan Academy.