Amy Stewart

Philosophy

 

            I believe children learn best in a varied environment.  It is through variety in teaching styles, assessment styles, subjects, levels of materials, methods of discussion, and types of activities that I believe we best meet the needs of each student.  I think it is important for students to work together as well as individually.  A teacher is very successful when students learn the lesson combined with valuable cooperation skills and respect for other’s perspectives.  This kind of varied instruction is individualized, meeting the needs of each child.

            The classroom environment should be warm, positive, comfortable, interesting, and challenging.  A classroom should be literacy rich and available at the student’s eye-level.    I would want someone to walk into my classroom and see the learning.  There should be an obvious sense of community and confidence among the members of the classroom.  The lessons should be open-ended, allowing students to explore further that which intrigues them.  We also take advantage of those teachable moments when kids get excited about something that I had not planned.  This flexibility allows children to be risk takers and to make mistakes, assert their individuality, and explore enough to reach the stars.   

            I feel a teacher needs to love children enough to combine all of these elements into the classroom.  My role as the teacher is to model a love for learning and growing grounded in the reality of their own lives.  All of this is done with the expectation that children will love life back.  And I believe they will.