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Music in the classroom!
I just downloaded 53 albums of Putumayo World Music for my life/classroom!
#Education I need some feedback. What do you think of my teaching philosophy?
Teaching Philosophy
I believe that it is my responsibility as a teacher to keep children safe while helping them develop socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically both inside and outside the classroom walls. I will do this by having high expectations for every student that will be individualized depending on their own personal strengths and needs. I believe that through collaboration, as well as individual work, children will be able to develop a sense of self worth and a sense of the world around them.
It is vital that the course materials the students are presented with are challenging, interactive, and relevant to their lives. They should also be developmentally appropriate and accessible to children of all abilities. Whenever possible hands on experience should be implemented, however hands on experience is only part of the process. There needs to be a pre-assessment given before every lesson as well as a final assessment to determine whether or not the students fully comprehend the new information they were presented with. The pre-assessment is vital to the learning process because students are not empty vessels waiting to be filled with information. Every child comes into the classroom with their own personal reservoir of beliefs, traditions, and assumptions, which need to be recognized and discussed. By doing this I can help foster a greater classroom community and help a child create their own individual identity. In order to gain a greater understanding of a student’s personal reservoir, teachers must work along side the student’s family because they are the student’s first teachers. Collaboration between with a student’s family is the only way a child is able to truly learn and grow. The benefit of a final assessment of a lesson plan is to help the teacher understand what students retained while also helping solidify the information the students just processed.
I believe it is the job of the teacher to create a safe environment for students to state their opinions. They should be taught to think critically and question everything. I want them to be comfortable taking risks and making mistakes. They should learn to be resilient when mistakes happen because it is through our mistakes that we learn the most. Truly bonding with the students and having them bond with each other can accomplish all of this. Having a no-bullying stance in the classroom is key to making this possible.
Alongside a no-bullying stance the classroom should be managed based on the notions of fairness, respect, and consistency. It is important to note that being fair does not mean every child is treated in the same way and given the same things, but is instead having every child be treated and given opportunities which will allow them to be successful. When it comes to being respectful students are expected to treat every person they encounter the way they want to be treated both inside and outside the classroom. Classroom management should also be based upon consistency. By having a set routine in the classroom students will be able to know what is expected of them and act accordingly. As a teacher it is my job to treat students fairly, model being respectful towards everyone I encounter, and be open and honest with them about changes in the daily routine.
The classroom environment should be seen a second teacher. It should be kept organized and clean thus enabling all students to access materials they need in order to complete their work. By keeping the classroom organized and clean students will be able to become responsible for their own education and gain a sense of independence. The classroom should be filled with materials that spark curiosity, dialogues, and possibilities. It is my belief that all children should be given access to materials they need in order to succeed. Whether this means I need to personally purchase materials, or find alternative ways to access them, it is vital for a student’s growth to be able to use the latest technologies and most have the most useful tools at their fingertips. Being able to make connections with the community my school is located in will not only help me gain materials, but will also help me understand where my students are coming from and show them the value of community.
A teacher is always a student. I will work collaboratively with fellow teachers and will continue to expand my own personal pedagogical knowledge by continuing to take courses and read. I will also personally reflect on my teaching practices and encourage student to give me feedback on my lesson plans and teaching style, so that I can refine my teaching techniques. My job is to open doors for students so they can have a better life in the future, but it is their responsibility whether or not they go through it. I will make it evident to the students that the skills they develop while in school will help them gain better futures for themselves. At the end of the each year I will inform my students that although they will be moving on in life I will always be there for them to turn to when they need assistance. This is a promise that may be difficult at times to keep, but investing in a child’s future as a teacher is not over the minute a school bell rings or the calendar reaches a certain date. Instead the relationships built within the classroom should be everlasting. Having children become responsible for their own learning, but also recognizing when they need assistance, is the difference between a good teacher and a great one. I vow to be a great one!