"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." - Albert Einstein
I believe that…
each and every student has both the right and the ability to learn
students are responsible for their own learning
students are active learners and construct their own knowledge
student independence is the goal of teaching
all instruction and lessons should aligned with mandated standards
instruction should be developmentally appropriate and in the students’ zone of proximal development
instruction should be differentiated in order to meet the needs of all individual learners
teachers should recognize that there are several different learning styles
multiple intelligences should be kept in mind while planning instruction
teachers should use multiple grouping configurations while teaching such as whole group, small group, partnerships, or individual work
center-based instruction is an additional options
teachers should emphasize inquiry-based instruction
students should be taught subject-specific strategies (problem solving)
students should synthesize, analyze, and apply
students benefit from learning though active hands-on lessons
students benefit from discovery learning because it helps students see phenomena and patterns
students benefit from opportunities to choose throughout the learning process
students benefit from a structured, organized, and supportive environment and an effective learning community
learning is language based
learning occurs through social interactions and students need to have the opportunity to learn from adults as well as from each other
instruction should be integrated across subject areas
instruction should be relevant to students’ lives and experiences by building on and connecting to students’ prior knowledge
instruction should be engaging and motivating
instruction should focus on declarative, procedural, and conditional knowledge
instruction should include examples and non-examples
instruction should foster an understanding of the importance of life-long learning
teachers need to have varied instructional formats
metacognition should be taught within all subjects
lessons should be logically sequenced
teachers must scaffold learning
direct instruction (model, guided practice, independent practice, independent application, and graded task) should be used while teaching
concepts and skills should be revisited throughout the year
students should have an opportunity to practice and apply what they learn
teachers must take advantage of teachable moments
teachers are learners as well and should continually reflect on their planning and teaching
assessments should be authentic ongoing and a combination of formal and informal measures
assessments should inform planning for future instruction
using technology, and teaching an understanding of it, is an important part of teaching
parents are our partners and should be involved in their students’ learning
there should be both vertical and horizontal collaboration among teachers