Mr. Smith's Teaching Philosophy
My philosophy as an educator is to nurture the curiosity and excitement of my students. I want each of my students to feel a sense of wonder in a safe, fun, and creative environment. My role is to facilitate learning in the classroom. Students are encouraged to experience learning through a variety of methods. The instruction is activity-based, and engages students as they experience all aspects of learning. I also feel that students should take ownership of their learning, therefore, students are taught to work in small, flexible groups and to actively discuss and explore new ways of thinking by sharing their thinking with others. My students will be using Seesaw to document their learning throughout the year.
I want my students to develop a love for reading. Reading should not be thought of something they have to do. A good book can inspire us to expand our thoughts, dive into real world issues, think about one's actions, and above all learn new and exciting things. In my classroom, books are at the center of instruction. Children's books are frequently used to teach a variety of concepts in my classroom.
Students in my classroom are surrounded by books. It's my goal to teach students how to become engaged readers and to have a passion for reading. Students experience reading through Reader's Workshop. Children participate as readers through shared reading, independent reading, and reading groups. Reading should be enjoyable, but it should also be purposeful. If I can teach students how to ask meaningful questions of text, interact with the story, and connect prior knowledge to what they are reading, then I have given them the opportunity to be a life long learner.
During Writing Workshop, students begin to look at text from a Writer's point of view. Writing is a very creative and exciting craft. Being able to communicate one's thoughts and feelings is a critical skill in today's society. It is my goal to foster students' passion for writing and to incorporate research in the writing process. In addition, I feel it is important that students learn how to write non-fiction text. Therefore, writing is often integrated with science and social studies concepts, which allows students to gain a deeper understanding of the standards taught.
During Math Workshop, students are often introduced to new concepts through children's literature, small groups, and hands-on investigations. I feel that although skill and drill may have its place in a traditional approach to math instruction, I believe students should be allowed to work collaboratively with their peers to investigate mathematical thinking. Students in my classroom are often presented with math concepts through the use of games, math stations, manipulatives, math investigations, and real-world approaches to critical thinking and problem solving. I also believe that real understanding begins with talking and sharing of ideas. Therefore, students in my classroom are encouraged to have math notebooks and share their thinking with others.
I want my students to develop a love for reading. Reading should not be thought of something they have to do. A good book can inspire us to expand our thoughts, dive into real world issues, think about one's actions, and above all learn new and exciting things. In my classroom, books are at the center of instruction. Children's books are frequently used to teach a variety of concepts in my classroom.
Students in my classroom are surrounded by books. It's my goal to teach students how to become engaged readers and to have a passion for reading. Students experience reading through Reader's Workshop. Children participate as readers through shared reading, independent reading, and reading groups. Reading should be enjoyable, but it should also be purposeful. If I can teach students how to ask meaningful questions of text, interact with the story, and connect prior knowledge to what they are reading, then I have given them the opportunity to be a life long learner.
During Writing Workshop, students begin to look at text from a Writer's point of view. Writing is a very creative and exciting craft. Being able to communicate one's thoughts and feelings is a critical skill in today's society. It is my goal to foster students' passion for writing and to incorporate research in the writing process. In addition, I feel it is important that students learn how to write non-fiction text. Therefore, writing is often integrated with science and social studies concepts, which allows students to gain a deeper understanding of the standards taught.
During Math Workshop, students are often introduced to new concepts through children's literature, small groups, and hands-on investigations. I feel that although skill and drill may have its place in a traditional approach to math instruction, I believe students should be allowed to work collaboratively with their peers to investigate mathematical thinking. Students in my classroom are often presented with math concepts through the use of games, math stations, manipulatives, math investigations, and real-world approaches to critical thinking and problem solving. I also believe that real understanding begins with talking and sharing of ideas. Therefore, students in my classroom are encouraged to have math notebooks and share their thinking with others.