Educational+Belief+Statements

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= September 2007 =

 I think that this balloon represents education because if you don't put anything into it you really don't get much out of it. Even when you have put something into it, it is important that you use some creativity to personalize it to each individual. The idea of knowing each of our students and personalizing their experience is of immense importance to me. The other great thing is that if it isn't right the first time you can untie it and start over again.  = November 2007 =  I believe that each student requires school to be a safe and supportive environment first and foremost. Once we have created an atmosphere of support that addresses the unique needs of each student we can then start to look at what they can achieve and want to achieve and work with them to realize those goals.  I feel that it is the role of the teacher to act as a guide and a mentor to their students. With this mentoring students can use their experiences to not only learn academic skills and content but also discover and mold new aspects of their own lives and personalities.  While I do not believe that students will inherently demonstrate positive behaviour at all times I do believe that, given the opportunities and experiences, they have a desire to be socially responsible members of a community. If given these opportunities and experiences they can develop habits that demonstrate this responsibility both inside and outside of the school environment.  = January 2008 =

 Students require school to be a safe and supportive environment first and foremost. The creation of an atmosphere of support that addresses the unique needs of each student leads to the examination of what each individual can, and wants to, achieve. Once the goals of each student have been established their educational community can work with them to make these goals a reality.  It is the role of the teacher to act as a guide and a mentor to their students. With this mentoring students can use their experiences to not only learn academic skills and content but also discover and mold new aspects of their own lives and personalities. While students will not inherently demonstrate positive behaviour at all times, given the opportunities and experiences, they have a desire to be socially responsible members of a community. When provided with these opportunities and experiences they can develop habits that demonstrate this responsibility both inside and outside of the school environment.

=April 2008=

I believe that the purpose of education is to provide students with opportunities to explore their world and discover ways of interacting with this world in a positive manner that promotes personal growth and understanding. As an educator it is my responsibility to become a member of the student’s educational community that is working to expose them to these opportunities and assist them in choosing which of these opportunities best fit their own beliefs and understandings of the world. I will accomplish this by working closely with not only the student but also with the other members of the educational community. Key members of this community include teachers, counselors, administrators, parents and individuals that the student trusts such as friends and community leaders. It is the responsibility of the student to work with the members of their community to enhance their educational experience. Students in my classes work closely together to create an environment that is safe and supportive and promotes learning. Through the creation of this environment students are able to share their previous experiences and interests with each other and myself. This sharing helps foster a community that embraces the diversity of each individual and the environment while encouraging students to take risks and challenge themselves. As the students work with each other and their teacher it is the responsibility of the teacher to present the curriculum in a way that embraces the values of the classroom community and is relevant to the students’ lives. In my classroom this is accomplished using both student centered and teacher centered activities to appeal to a variety of learning preferences. Through the use of collaborative learning activities students are held accountable for their work and their contribution to the class. Being an educator is as much about learning as it is about teaching. By continuing to learn new methods of teaching and expanding my subject knowledge I am able to share my enthusiasm for learning with my students and help them to discover and develop their identity.