My+Philosophy+of+Education

===For me, my philosophy of education is not so esoteric sounding; it’s a way of life. Teaching and learning is what I love doing. I think about my teaching in and out of class, all hours of the day. Teaching is a great profession because, for me, I am always approaching the day and my lessons with fresh ideas, whether they come from an article I’ve read, a colleague on Twitter, the science teacher next door, or my own head! I’m always eager to stand in front of my class, wish my students a good morning, and introduce an outline of what’s in store for the day’s lesson. It’s never the same.===

===Teaching brings out the strengths in my personality. I am privileged to share, on a daily basis, my sense of adventure, my sense of fun, my modesty, my love of learning, and my creativity. Combine these qualities with my passion and my Buffalo, NY-blue-collar work ethic (my first job was slinging newspapers at 11 years old) and the end result is a dedicated, effective and conscientious teacher.===

===My students know that all the ‘smartness’ in the world won’t guarantee them anything; they need to really show an effort in my class. And this is one of the things I’m most proud of: I have high expectations for my students and they respond with quality work. Much of teaching is leading by example, especially at the middle-school level. My students want to do well in my class, and I hope that is a result of me wanting to do well by them.===

===In my classroom the walls are decorated with student work and posters reminding us of the writing process, ancient Egypt and everything in between. You’ll find students engaged--partners, group work, individual research, learning stations--I often run my classes with the workshop style in mind. After a bell-ringer warm-up, I’ll outline the day’s lesson, connecting the bell-ringer with the previous night’s homework. I’ll then introduce a new idea, show an example, discuss, assess, and set them a task to work on their own on a finished product that will then be presented at the end of class, reinforcing the original lesson. Much of learning is about making connections with what we know. Designing my lessons, I am aware of the transitions, cognitive and physical, trying to make them as seamless as possible.===

===What may not be so apparent to the casual observer are some of the common threads running through our classroom. A sense of compassionate respect, reinforced daily in countless ways, a sense of equity, again especially important for the middle-school age, and, maybe most importantly, consistency. Students know what to expect and are able to succeed when presented with consistent expectations.===

===And at the end of the day, cutting through all of the pedagogical-speak, I quietly reflect on the simple lessons of the Dalai-lama, a seemingly thoughtful individual, who encourages us to develop the heart, work for peace and practice compassion. These are thoughts and practices I strive to carry with me, into the world and, most importantly, into my classroom.===