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Education 560 Teaching Philosophy Heather Bloxham April 17, 2014

2 In order to be a successful educator, I must have effective classroom management skills that combine a high level of organization with a versatility rooted in a thorough knowledge of the curriculum. Within my classroom, my role is to connect to my students and to create authentic lessons that resonate with them. It is vital for students to become engaged participants in their education and for them to be active meaning makers of the world around them, not as consumers of predetermined knowledge (Tarr, 2010, p.10). It is necessary to build a sense of community within the classroom that promotes and engenders positive relationships among students and teachers. It is essential for my students to feel they are in a safe, fair, and comfortable environment where they can equally contribute by sharing and gaining knowledge.

Differentiation It can be challenging to incorporate all learners, however diversity or disabilities must not be ignored or marginalised. My goal as an educator is to ensure every student has the opportunity to excel; to foster their strengths and to provide resources to assist where they struggle. Differentiated instruction will be the focus of my inclusive classroom. Strategies to accommodate will be applied to engage all learning styles, abilities, and interests. I will encourage each of my students to maintain their own individuality and to recognize their aptitudes while focusing on how they could improve. In order to accommodate different learning styles and levels I will apply appropriate formative and summative assessments and provide individual attention. It is crucial to correspond oneto-one with each student daily. By being cognizant of the strengths and weaknesses of

3 each of my students, I will be able to be more accurate and valuable in guiding development and improvement.

Classroom Management Through my practicum I have witnessed firsthand how integral classroom management is for the success of a teachers presentation of a lesson and the students learning of the lesson. My goal is to continually seek out opportunities and strategies that will strengthen my classroom management skills. In my classroom I will include my students in the construction of guidelines, protocols, rules, management and even consequences. This involvement will ensure that my students always have a clear understanding of what is expected of them. As well, this will allow students to have ownership for their behaviour and allow them to track their own behaviour. As a preservice teacher, I must ensure that I am prepared to organize my classroom in ways that inspire my students. Through this constant buzz of lessons, interactions and activity it is important to keep a keen eye out for ordinary moments. It is within these ordinary moments that an educator may glean a deeper understanding of a childs abilities and interests (Tarr, 2010, p.12).

Curriculum and Lesson Planning As an educator I strive to build a deep understanding of the Inspiring Education document, the Ministerial order and Albertas curricular goals. When formulating unit plans, individual lessons or any classroom activity, it is essential to be aware of curricular or cross-curricular connections and student learner expectations. As a pre-service teacher,

4 I strive to create learning experiences that make subject matter meaningful and understandable to young learners. Lessons that encourage students personal development of critical thinking, problem solving and academic performance, as well strategies to becoming independent thinkers, are key. To achieve this level of lesson planning, I intend to use a variety of instructional strategies, materials, and resources to teach my students. To further create engaging lessons, I endeavor to incorporate technology and other valuable resources in meaningful ways.

Teacher Resources Outside of school, the greater community can provide valuable resources for teachers and students. Local communities are a powerful contributor to students learning, because they can provide students with opportunities that build a sense of belonging within their school and community, and beyond both nationally and globally. I will foster professional relationships with members from the community and become genuinely involved in community events. Professional Development and lifelong learning are essential to my teaching philosophy. I will stay inspired by participating in seminars and lectures; I will pursue advanced education through community involvement. I am a lifelong learner and therefore I understand that learning involves learning how to learn (MacKeracher, 2004, p. 124). My fundamental goal as a teacher is to motivate and inspire students to participate in their own education and to value lifelong learning. I understand that it is critical to teach students how to be positive, active members of society and to help them find their spark.

5 Works Cited MacKeracher, D. (2004). Making sense of adult learning. Toronto [Ont.: University of Toronto Press. Tarr, P. (2010). Curiosity, Curriculum and Collaboration Entwined: Reflections and Pedagogical Documentation. Canadian Children, 35(2), 10-14.