Miss Alexander's Teaching Philosophy
I approach teaching in a fun way to instill in my students the idea that learning is lifelong, not a process that ends when you leave the classroom. Incorporating parent-involvement and community programs, where students can experience first-hand the positives of education and how their knowledge affects others; encourages students to continue to seek out knowledge and find the things that interest them most. I’d like to instill in my students a sense of wonder in the world around them, and I will do this through Science labs and History Alive! programs, as well as encouraging investigation beyond what we cover in class.
I promote students’ taking responsibility for their learning through projects, where students have control in how they “show what they know”, by meeting the objectives of the unit, but gaining a deeper understanding of their chosen topic. Giving students’ autonomy in their learning promotes self-confidence as they present to the class or community and teaches the skills students need to be self-sufficient, weeding out appropriate sources of information and decide for themselves what is “true” and “worth knowing”.
I am a strong believer in Howard Gardener’s theory of Multiple Intelligences, and try to incorporate at least two different intelligences into each lesson. I encourage my students to know their learning strengths and areas where they can grow, so they can use their intelligences to gain a deeper understanding of the content.
I am a firm but fair teacher. I do my best to remain consistent in my expectations of the students. I do not hide the objectives from students, because it is my belief that if they know what they are working towards, and what is expected of them, they can better achieve. I am a teacher to help students succeed, and tell my students “fair doesn’t mean everyone is equal, fair means everyone gets what they need to succeed”. I set the bar high for my students but also let them know I will never present them with a challenge they cannot meet or an obstacle that they cannot overcome.
I encourage creativity and originality from my students, not only through application of MI in my classroom, but by teaching to the whole child. Character education is very important, especially at the middle-school level, where students actively “try on” different personas through sports, clubs, and extra curricular involvement, especially that in the community. Through character education and an emphasis on the students’ role in the global society, we are raising awareness of different perspectives, which encourages the respect of different opinions. Teaching acceptance, rather than just tolerance, is a good way to discourage bullying—a pervasive problem in middle schools today.
I am searching for a school community that feels whole-student education and community involvement is just as important as meeting teaching standards. I would like to be part of a school family where teachers and administration believe in joyful learning, and have enthusiasm for teaching. When all members of the school are geared towards student success, I feel we can have a greater positive impact on our students and not let any slip through the cracks.
Bullying is not accepted in my classroom, where an environment of fairness and respect is expected. Students treat each other with kindness to maintain an emotionally safe and supportive environment where everyone is free to share their thoughts and ideas. My responsibility as an educator is to enforce school policy as well as class policy, which the students will help me generate annually at the beginning of the term. I’m where the buck stops so to speak, I’m the one who sets the tone for the class dynamic, and that’s a role I take very seriously.
I look forward to continuing my education in the future years, and attending workshops as well as conferences focusing on how best to facilitate student learning with the best teacher tools I can offer. I feel strongly that students should stay engaged in every aspect of their learning, and the best way to keep students engaged is through preparation and education on the instructor’s part. I am eager and prepared for every learning curve that comes with each new year of teaching.
I promote students’ taking responsibility for their learning through projects, where students have control in how they “show what they know”, by meeting the objectives of the unit, but gaining a deeper understanding of their chosen topic. Giving students’ autonomy in their learning promotes self-confidence as they present to the class or community and teaches the skills students need to be self-sufficient, weeding out appropriate sources of information and decide for themselves what is “true” and “worth knowing”.
I am a strong believer in Howard Gardener’s theory of Multiple Intelligences, and try to incorporate at least two different intelligences into each lesson. I encourage my students to know their learning strengths and areas where they can grow, so they can use their intelligences to gain a deeper understanding of the content.
I am a firm but fair teacher. I do my best to remain consistent in my expectations of the students. I do not hide the objectives from students, because it is my belief that if they know what they are working towards, and what is expected of them, they can better achieve. I am a teacher to help students succeed, and tell my students “fair doesn’t mean everyone is equal, fair means everyone gets what they need to succeed”. I set the bar high for my students but also let them know I will never present them with a challenge they cannot meet or an obstacle that they cannot overcome.
I encourage creativity and originality from my students, not only through application of MI in my classroom, but by teaching to the whole child. Character education is very important, especially at the middle-school level, where students actively “try on” different personas through sports, clubs, and extra curricular involvement, especially that in the community. Through character education and an emphasis on the students’ role in the global society, we are raising awareness of different perspectives, which encourages the respect of different opinions. Teaching acceptance, rather than just tolerance, is a good way to discourage bullying—a pervasive problem in middle schools today.
I am searching for a school community that feels whole-student education and community involvement is just as important as meeting teaching standards. I would like to be part of a school family where teachers and administration believe in joyful learning, and have enthusiasm for teaching. When all members of the school are geared towards student success, I feel we can have a greater positive impact on our students and not let any slip through the cracks.
Bullying is not accepted in my classroom, where an environment of fairness and respect is expected. Students treat each other with kindness to maintain an emotionally safe and supportive environment where everyone is free to share their thoughts and ideas. My responsibility as an educator is to enforce school policy as well as class policy, which the students will help me generate annually at the beginning of the term. I’m where the buck stops so to speak, I’m the one who sets the tone for the class dynamic, and that’s a role I take very seriously.
I look forward to continuing my education in the future years, and attending workshops as well as conferences focusing on how best to facilitate student learning with the best teacher tools I can offer. I feel strongly that students should stay engaged in every aspect of their learning, and the best way to keep students engaged is through preparation and education on the instructor’s part. I am eager and prepared for every learning curve that comes with each new year of teaching.