Philosophy of Education

"I am not a teacher......., I am an awakener" Robert Frost

It is vital that all educators start with the premise "all children can learn!" The challenge of the classroom teacher is to reach all children with methods and strategies that are the most beneficial to their individual learning needs.

We must provide a learning environment in our classroom that nurtures the development of our students into future citizens of our society. The environment should assist young people to develop skills of cooperation, flexibility, curiosity, creativity and to experience the joy of learning.

The goal is to encourage students to become life long learners. We need both to model and demonstrate the importance of the family role in the learning process.

My classroom will be:

* bright and cheery and full of interesting pictures, maps and
  quotes on the walls.
* welcoming to students each morning
* organized and efficient
* a "safe place" for students to be where they are assured
  to be treated as an individual and judged on their 
  contribution to the classroom community.

Collection of Ideas for Classroom Operation

Day Planners
My students will start the semester off with "day planners". We will use these planners at the beginning of each day to set up the plan for the day. Students will write down important dates such as major tests or projects due, concerts, parent conferences and the all important - vacations! At the end of the day, we will take a few minutes to review the tasks that have been completed during the day and what tasks have to be moved on to the next day's plan. This planner will have a section for addresses and telephone numbers to be saved. At certain points during the semester, students will be required to share these planners with their parents. The covers of the planners will be decorated by the students and they will be required to share these planners with their parents. The only requirement for the covers will be that they clearly indicate the student's name. I will talk to the art teacher to see if this is an area that we can collaborate on. I will also encourage other teachers to request that the students in my class record assignments in their planners.

Lunch Conversations
During each semester, I will have lunch with each one of my students by themselves. It is especially important for middle school students to have quality contact with adult mentors. During this lunch, the focus will be on the student. We will not concentrate on school activities unless that is what with student wants to talk about. Students will "schedule" lunch with me as adults schedule lunches with colleagues and friends. Setting appointments and keeping them are a skill that is valuable for students to assimilate. This will be another opportunity for students to use their day planners. This will be an ideal opportunity for students to get to know me better and for me to be able to improve connections with each individual students.

Service Project
My class will complete a service project that will benefit the general school community during each semester.  Students will choose the project (with required approval from the teacher and the principal), plan the project and execute it with minimal adult intervention possible.  It is important that they take ownership of the project and thereby reap maximum satisfaction and pride in completing a job well done.  The process of selecting a project and executing it will be as valuable to the students as the actual benefit to the school community.

The World in Ten Minutes
Every day, we will take ten minutes to review news reported in the print or television media. We will locate the geographic location of the story and students will make entries in their journals about their reactions and feelings regarding this issue. Learning about news events will peak students' interest in the world around them and possibly limit students forming opinions from a base of ignorance.

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