Belief Statements
The following is a list of my top ten belief statements that I have embedded in my teaching practice. They are in no particular order of importance.
1. I believe all teachers should focus on inclusivity in classrooms- aim to teach students the importance of diversity, acceptance, and kindness. By using Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, as a critical pedagogical tool, I can better ensure all students are taught content from the curriculum that is both achievable and somewhat challenging.
2. I believe all teachers must continue to learn and take courses while teaching in order to stay up-to-date with new technologies and resources to use for instructional purposes. This adds to a teacher's professional development and growth.
3. I believe teachers must follow daily routines in order to maintain structure for students to keep them focused and motivated. This consistency keeps expectations and standards in check for smooth school days for both teachers and students.
4. I believe authentic learning to be one of the most beneficial instructional approaches because at the end of the day students want and should learn to apply their knowledge in the real world after school. Student engagement is essential to me as an educator because students gain from experience. More specifically, I want to implement activities that mimic real-life scenarios and challenge my students to make mistakes to promote the value that process has to active learning. It helps students put meaning and purpose into their learning instead of just going through the motions of listening enough to get by.
5. I believe all teachers must be able to adapt in a variety of different situations. There are many different contexts adaptability can be traced under: how to incorporate online activities, teaching virtually, creating IEPs for students that require modified learning, etc.
6. I believe holistic teaching approaches. All teachers must be patient and attentive to students’ social, physical, emotional and cognitive development in order to help them find balance in the 21st Century, especially young ones and those with learning disabilities.
7. I believe in personalization (putting students/ learners at the forefront), in order to meet every student's learning goals and needs. This includes Differentiated Instruction and Universal Design of Learning. This also involves getting to know what students' interests are outside of the classroom because this is how teachers can teach for better understanding and overall student success. It helps them to make better connections and keeps them intrigued.
8. I believe all teachers must always show their passion for teaching.
9. I believe teachers must guide students to develop critical thinking skills in order to integrate specific ideas, not just gather facts. By using Bloom’s Taxonomy model, I hope to encourage my students to think more deeply about themselves and those around them.
10. I believe technology can be very detrimental for many reasons, but if used properly and for educational purposes. It is an exceptional research tool of the 21st century and aids in the learning process. Teachers must monitor what students are researching when using technology in classrooms. I find as though I am current with 21st century technologies, but I am not well-versed with using new technology for teaching purposes. Dealing with COVID-19 has allowed me to gain experience and expertise using trial and error alongside technology and finding platforms that work best to teach remotely.
Click the button on the left to access weekly journals during a class that focused on the integration of technology in the classroom to get an idea on my experiences, strategies, and opinion on components of technology in education.