Blog: Literacy Philosophy
Teaching to me is:
A passionate adventure...
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. Whether it be from just getting to know the students better, or being able to develop lesson plans that better differentiate to the needs of the students, a teacher should always be trying, to be that better teacher, for a teacher is always a student.
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.
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
A reading corner