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Tag: EPHEportfolio

My Teaching Philosophy

To be honest, I don’t really have a teaching philosophy yet. I have only worked with children for four years and most of the experience was within summer or after school camps. However throughout the last year, I have learned a lot about classroom management. Here are a couple ideas I would like to bring into my future classroom.

Social Emotional Learning

CASSEL’S SEL Principles

As a teacher, I am looking forward to bringing Social Emotional Learning (SELs) and self-regulation into my classroom. By teaching children SELs, we are teaching children to be empathetic and compassionate (which is something people are not born knowing). While children are young, we need to teach them how to properly feel their emotions and communicate with people. When children’s needs are not being met, they shut down. By teaching self-regulation, we are giving students the resources on what to do when they feel a certain way. Children that learn SELs may still throw an occasional tantrum, but they are more likely to know what is making them upset and try and fix the problem.

Gradual Release of Responsibility

I am so excited to use the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) model in my classroom. Tying in closely with Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), the GRR model shows how lessons and units should be taught with the responsibility starting with the teacher and ending with the student independently. This system works since you are not throwing the students into the deep end but you are also not holding their hand the entire way through the lesson. By using the GRR model, the teacher creates independent learners that are responsible for their own learning. This also ties in with Inquiry, since students should not be expected to know how to think like an inquiry learner until the teacher shows them how.

Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is really important in a classroom since it impacts whether a student is going to be motivated to learn about the topic. If students are constantly anxious due to challenges and criticism, they will not feel safe to learn in my classroom. To increase a growth mindset, I will correct students when they say something like a fixed mindset. For example, if a student says ‘I can’t do this’ I will teach them to say ‘I can do this with some help.’ If students grow up with a growth mindset, their lives will constantly be filled with adventure since they are moving up to new challenges. Having a growth mindset will also improve anxiety within students since they will not back down from challenges and be confident in their actions.

Most importantly, I want to be the teacher that I would want when I was younger. Looking back, there are so many different activities and experiences I wish I had as a kid. For example, Outdoor Education was not as prominant when I was in elementary school. I am going to make sure I am always trying my best and creating activities that I am passionate about!

Course Work

Throughout the past two years, I have taken many classes that are relevant to teaching and classroom management. These classes allowed me to learn general knowledge in each of the subjects, as well as learn more about the mind of a student and classroom management.

English Requirements (ENGL)

  • English 135
    • Academic Reading and Writing
  • English 146
    • Contemporary Literature

History (HSTR)

  • History 101A
    • Ten Days That Shook the World
  • History 230A
    • Canada to Confederation
  • History 230B
    • Canada: Confederation to Present

Science

  • Astronomy (ASTR)  101
    • Exploring the Night Sky
  • Earth and Ocean Sciences (EOS) 120
    • The Dynamic Earth

Mathematics (MATH)

  • Math 161
    • Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I
  • Math 162
    • Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers II

Psychology (PSYC)

  • Psychology 100A
    • Introductory Psychology: I

Curriculum and Instruction (EDCI)

  • Curriculum and Instruction 250
    • Elementary Field Experience Seminar
  • Curriculum and Instruction 300
    • Mathematical Processes
  • Curriculum and Instruction 302
    • Literacy and Language in the Elementary or Middle Classroom
  • Curriculum and Instruction 303
    • Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Canadian Education
  • Curriculum and Instruction 305A
    • Drama Education as a Medium for Learning I
  • Curriculum and Instruction 306A
    • Music in the Elementary or Middle Classroom I
  • Curriculum and Instruction 307A
    • Art in the Elementary or Middle Classroom I
  • Curriculum and Instruction 336
    • Technology and Innovation in Education

Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education 

  • Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education 310
    • Physical Education for General Classroom Teachers I
  • Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education 311
    • Physical Education for General Classroom Teachers II

Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies (ED-D)

  • Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies 301
    • Learners and Learning Environments

Mentoring

Throughout the past year, I have been a dedicated and passionate peer mentor for first-year art students.  I have done this by becoming an Engage Leader at the Office of Student Life at the University of Victoria. I am responsible for ensuring students have a great first year and have a sense of connection and community at the university. Each month, I put on an event for students to join and make several posts to encourage engagement within our small community. At the moment, I have 33 students in my pod; most of which is music and there are a few theatre students. In the upcoming year, I am also trying to take on more mentoring opportunities. I am doing this by applying to become a Recruitment Ambassador for the university. I am also a substitute coach in rhythmic gymnastics and an after-school day camp leader.

Rhythmic Gymnastics

One of my biggest passions growing up and to this day is rhythmic gymnastics. When I was five years old, I started going to gymnastics class each week to learn how to use the trampoline, the beams, or the bars. However, when I was eight and looked at the other gymnasts using apparatus, I was immediately sold.  Rhythmic gymnastics has always been my favourite sport since there are so many different types of apparatus and skills to learn. When I was learning, my favourite was the ribbon since it would flow nicely in the air; especially the wide ones. Each year, I would be eager to go into my gymnastics class and learn all the different skills and learn the new routines for the seasonal show. Not only do I love the sport, but the community of people you are surrounded with each week is astounding, It is special since you all share a mutual bond of loving the sport.