My Literacy Philosophy!!
Teaching to me is:
A way of life!
Some teachers teach because they have to, others teach because it is a passion. In my opinion, teaching should be something that benefits, not only the students but the teachers and parents alike. If at the end of the day, I haven’t learned something new, whether it be from my lesson, or from my students, then I know I have done something wrong. Teachers should teach to embrace new things and to influence a better tomorrow.
Literacy should be:
Fun!
At the beginning of every lesson I teach, I always start off with what my students know. I never assume I know more than my students, because there have been times when they have outsmarted me. Reading, Writing and Comprehension are the biggest parts of Literacy. Sometimes even I struggle, as an everyday person, in all three fields. Do I expect my children to come in as Einstein? No. Do I expect them to leave as Einstein? No I don’t. In my literacy philosophy it is not about cramming information into a child’s brain, and expecting it to stick. I am more about letting what I have taught sink in and using reinforcements in my teaching. I am a big fan of children’s books. I am 20 years old, and “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie” is still one of my all-time favorite books. Literacy to me, should be the most fun a child has in their school career. Literacy is the first building block to all things in life, and building literacy, is like building a new friendship that will last forever.
Multiple Intelligences:
EVERYONE is different!
In every classroom, they stylistic teaching of the teacher is never the same. Multiple Intelligences proves that. No two people have the same personality, same preferences or same learning styles. To me, that is probably the hardest thing that I, as a teacher have struggled with. I am a hands-on person. No matter the subject; Math, English or well anything, if it’s not hands-on or interactive in some way, it’s not sticking. For me, teaching is about knowing the variety of activities that can be performed in a classroom, and accommodating lesson plans to have two or three ways of teaching.
Materials for an Interactive Classroom:
For me, the more one interacts the more they learn. Materials that I would like to have in my classroom one day are:
Whiteboards
Legos
Construction Paper
A library FULL of children’s books
Organized stations
A help center (for individuals who need more help)
Interactive learning games