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 Philosophy of Teaching      

As a teacher, I believe that the purpose of education is to provide all children
with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve success, both cognitively and emotionally, in their adult lives.  In order to achieve this, I as the teacher, have to afford to students a warm, inviting environment that allows for students to grow academically.  I must create a learning atmosphere where students are encouraged to express their thoughts and opinions freely and without fear of ridicule. 

I believe that educators need to provide a safe and effective environment for learning and be able to provide whatever is necessary for students to achieve success while at school.  To that end, I strive to make my classroom a place where students are encouraged to speak their minds while at the same time teaching students the principles of respect towards one another and towards different viewpoints.           

I believe that educators are responsible for teaching students the curriculum in a manner that breeds intrinsic motivation, for setting high expectations and for teaching students the tools necessary to achieve successful life experiences.  To that end, I try to create a student-centered learning environment where students take ownership of their learning and are involved in the process of learning instead of just merely being receptacles of facts and figures.         

As an educator, I am responsible for being a role model, for providing students with an environment conducive for learning and for teaching lessons and material in a way that supports students with different learning styles and learning difficulties.  To do this, I am continuing my own education in order to stay abreast of the current research in teaching methodologies and modalities so that I may apply these techniques in my own classroom.  I also believe a good educator is one who is reflective of their own teaching.  I consistently look back and take an objective view of my classroom and teaching style so I can see how conducive the learning environment is and make changes that I feel will benefit students learning outcomes.            

It is through all of these beliefs that I am striving to be the best educator I can possibly be.  Through this process, I must continually reflect upon my own journey, day by day, in order to reevaluate and look objectively at the needs of my students and then strive to fulfill their educational needs. 

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