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Teaching Philosophy
As my experiences are broadened, the more I believe that if the stage is set for success, the learning will come. It is essential for students' needs to be assessed. Then, when basic needs are met, learning will take place. First, teaching must be from the heart. By this I mean before one can teach any population including one as diverse as ours, certain basic needs have to be met. Students come to school with a certain degree of issues or concerns. Clearly, this need does not fit into our vast and continually growing current curriculum. However, needs for establishing a safe and loving environment for one student might entail more involvement than is typical of other students on a daily basis. If the student does not feel safe in the school community, student centered goals cannot be met. The first step in achieving this goal is to establish a sound, working relationship with the students. One must build a rapport with them and, at the same time, gradually introduce expectations. The positive, social climate must be established prior to plans for learning. Building this rapport could vary from group to group and from student to student. Some students just may need to be part of a periodic group discussion set as an open forum for discussion for school and non-school related issues. Others may need intense one on one counseling complemented with other resources from the school, the community, and home. Strengths and weaknesses need to be identified in individual students. We all know that as a teacher, strengths are to be used to build weaknesses. This goes beyond the academics. Students need to grow socially and emotionally as well as academically. Single parent families and families who present a language barrier place greater demands on the educator to fulfill additional needs. As a parent of a special educational child, I feel most qualified to fulfill the role as teacher/mentor/counselor for not only special education students, but for all students. I have experienced what it means to be a teacher of this special population as well as a parent. As a teacher I try to do what is best for the child. Building basic values is a priority. Students may not necessarily approve of everything I do, but I know it is in the best interest for the students in the long term. Likewise, when the students are challenged and pushed, that feeling of satisfaction is enduring. For a student to reap the benefits and feel personal satisfaction from hard work acknowledges that I have made the correct career choice!
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