6 Guiding Principles
A Social and Academic Curriculum
When looking at a well-rounded education, a social curriculum is just as important as an academic curriculum. Teaching children to be good people who are caring, hopeful and productive citizens of society is critical to building healthy relationships that make our world a better place. This just as important as mastering academics. Social skills are life skills that are necessary to effectively communicate, listen, empathize and interact with others. They are also important in understanding personal identity. Understanding and interacting with people is a skill set that needs to be taught and can offer a lifetime of successful relationships and opportunities. It is my goal for every student to grow up to be a good person, who loves to learn.
When looking at a well-rounded education, a social curriculum is just as important as an academic curriculum. Teaching children to be good people who are caring, hopeful and productive citizens of society is critical to building healthy relationships that make our world a better place. This just as important as mastering academics. Social skills are life skills that are necessary to effectively communicate, listen, empathize and interact with others. They are also important in understanding personal identity. Understanding and interacting with people is a skill set that needs to be taught and can offer a lifetime of successful relationships and opportunities. It is my goal for every student to grow up to be a good person, who loves to learn.
How Children Learn
Children learn in different ways, at different times, and on different levels. Success is different for every child. Some children learn new skills the first time it is taught. Others may not be cognitively ready to learn a particular skill at a particular time. Therefore, it is important to remember to take opportunities as they come along in teaching and reteaching skills. Offering multiple ways to learn stems from using multiple teaching methods. The most important thing to remember when teaching is that learning is a process that takes time. The learning process is not the same for everyone, so incorporating different methods of learning like inquiry-based learning, cooperative learning, learning through play, presentations, or technology offer opportunities not obtainable through traditional teaching.
Children learn in different ways, at different times, and on different levels. Success is different for every child. Some children learn new skills the first time it is taught. Others may not be cognitively ready to learn a particular skill at a particular time. Therefore, it is important to remember to take opportunities as they come along in teaching and reteaching skills. Offering multiple ways to learn stems from using multiple teaching methods. The most important thing to remember when teaching is that learning is a process that takes time. The learning process is not the same for everyone, so incorporating different methods of learning like inquiry-based learning, cooperative learning, learning through play, presentations, or technology offer opportunities not obtainable through traditional teaching.
Cognitive Growth and Social Interaction
Social interaction is very important in the learning process. Lev Vygotsky's theory of cognitive development is based on the idea that children learn through social interactions. He believed that social learning precedes development. This theory of learning can be applied to any classroom. If students are given the opportunity to work together, in pairs or in groups, they can not only learn from one another, but sharing their thoughts and ideas will generate a deeper level of thinking and expand their learning.
Social interaction is very important in the learning process. Lev Vygotsky's theory of cognitive development is based on the idea that children learn through social interactions. He believed that social learning precedes development. This theory of learning can be applied to any classroom. If students are given the opportunity to work together, in pairs or in groups, they can not only learn from one another, but sharing their thoughts and ideas will generate a deeper level of thinking and expand their learning.
Social Skills
Social skills are necessary for success in school and in career opportunities. Teachers do not just teach grade level academics. They teach social skills that are necessary to advance into career opportunities as adults and become successful citizen of society. Social skills that are imperative to student success include listening to others, following the rules, ignoring distractions, asking for help, taking turns, getting along with others, showing responsibility and using self-control. Students build on these skills from infancy to adulthood. Practicing social skills in the classroom provides an opportunity for success throughout their entire life.
Social skills are necessary for success in school and in career opportunities. Teachers do not just teach grade level academics. They teach social skills that are necessary to advance into career opportunities as adults and become successful citizen of society. Social skills that are imperative to student success include listening to others, following the rules, ignoring distractions, asking for help, taking turns, getting along with others, showing responsibility and using self-control. Students build on these skills from infancy to adulthood. Practicing social skills in the classroom provides an opportunity for success throughout their entire life.
Knowing Your Students and Content Knowledge
knowing each child in the classroom is just as important as knowing the content you will teach. Understanding what each student knows, how each student learns, their background at home and in school, their hopes, dreams and goals will make for a heightened learning experience and a broader education. It also helps in differentiated teaching and cultivating an inclusive classroom that benefits every learner.
What you teach is just as important as who you are teaching. Content knowledge is significant to teaching at every level. Deepening the teacher's content knowledge offers an opportunity to expand the critical thinking skills of the students, especially in student-driven learning. Understanding the content also offers opportunities for different learning methods and teaching models. Take a science lesson in sound for example; a teacher can extend student learning by having them build a model that expresses sound using vibration and pitch. A teacher, having a deeper knowledge base, can provide students with opportunities to deepen their thinking and encourage problem solving.
Every child deserves the best education possible, in a warm, caring and productive classroom. Combining the importance of content knowledge with knowing each child, sets the stage for an optimal learning environment in which each student can learn at their best.
knowing each child in the classroom is just as important as knowing the content you will teach. Understanding what each student knows, how each student learns, their background at home and in school, their hopes, dreams and goals will make for a heightened learning experience and a broader education. It also helps in differentiated teaching and cultivating an inclusive classroom that benefits every learner.
What you teach is just as important as who you are teaching. Content knowledge is significant to teaching at every level. Deepening the teacher's content knowledge offers an opportunity to expand the critical thinking skills of the students, especially in student-driven learning. Understanding the content also offers opportunities for different learning methods and teaching models. Take a science lesson in sound for example; a teacher can extend student learning by having them build a model that expresses sound using vibration and pitch. A teacher, having a deeper knowledge base, can provide students with opportunities to deepen their thinking and encourage problem solving.
Every child deserves the best education possible, in a warm, caring and productive classroom. Combining the importance of content knowledge with knowing each child, sets the stage for an optimal learning environment in which each student can learn at their best.
Partnering with Families
Building a relationship with the families of the students creates an educational team that can support and encourage students to do their best. This educational team consisting of families, teacher, student, staff and community members offers an ideal support system for students. Families, teachers and students play the most important role in an optimal education. Teachers can support families in understanding child development and student goals while families can help support learning at home, helping the teacher to understand their culture and support student goals. Partnering with families begins with early and consistent communication between the teacher and guardian. Opening up the classroom to family visitors and volunteers also aids in student support. Helping students to do their best in all that they do can offer big gains in student success.
Building a relationship with the families of the students creates an educational team that can support and encourage students to do their best. This educational team consisting of families, teacher, student, staff and community members offers an ideal support system for students. Families, teachers and students play the most important role in an optimal education. Teachers can support families in understanding child development and student goals while families can help support learning at home, helping the teacher to understand their culture and support student goals. Partnering with families begins with early and consistent communication between the teacher and guardian. Opening up the classroom to family visitors and volunteers also aids in student support. Helping students to do their best in all that they do can offer big gains in student success.