Teaching+Philosophy

//"A teacher has two jobs; fill young minds with knowledge, yes, but more important, give those young minds a compass so that the knowledge doesn't go to waste." Principal Jacobs in Mr. Holland's Opus//


 * It is my responsibility as a teacher to provide all of my students with a safe classroom environment that fosters critical, creative, and higher order thinking. Most importantly, it is my responsibility to teach my students how to solve problems on their own by seeking out resources and by collaborating with others as these skills will aid them throughout their lives in various facets. I firmly believe that teachers need to teach students rather than subjects because every child is unique and learns differently and in order to reach an entire classroom of individuals, a teacher must know their students and offer differentiation. Kindness and caring are also two qualities I feel every teacher should have and portray within the classroom because it gains students trust and enables them to make connections with you that in turn, enhances their learning. Finally, a teacher is a life long learner and can only offer students a quality education if they themselves continue their personal education.**

//"Teachers provide a catalyst for learning by making information understandable and applicable to students. A teacher must have an intense passion for teaching. An effective teacher also has the will and the ability to show emotion, realizing that genuine emotions not only reveal his or her character, but also are an effective and personal means of communication. And not least, a teacher must know the importance of being humble." (F.P.H. Chan, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Pleva Award, 1996)//