MY EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
My personal philosophy of education centres on three key aspects of my teaching. These core values are that students will feel supported and heard in my classroom, a firm belief in student discovery and hands-on exploration, and that the conviction that students will leave my classroom with not just knowledge but skills to help them succeed in the future. Below, I will explore these in greater detail.
SUPPORTING ALL LEARNERS
First and foremost as an educator I believe that it is essential to support all learners in an inclusive classroom environment. Using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) I build in strategies to support students in my class, which is complemented with differentiated instruction based on both formally and informally identified student needs. I work directly with students to cultivate an inclusive learning environment and teaching strategies to best support their needs as an individual. I firmly believe that it is vital that all students feel heard and supported in my classroom.
EXPLORATION
I endeavour to share my passion for my teaching subjects, history and drama, with my students. I was inspired to study and teach these subjects because of the phenomenal high school teachers I had. They inspired my passion for the subjects – I hope to do the same for my students! In my class, I build in flexibility and choice wherever possible to support student interest and engagement. I also aim to provide students with the chance to investigate, explore, and try things out - I believe hands on, active learning both engages students and invites deeper understanding.
LIFE SKILLS
Finally, I want students to leave my class understanding the ways that skills they have acquired and/or practiced in my class can support them in whatever their future will hold, be it in other high school classes, in post-secondary education, or in the workforce. Students in my classroom work on their critical thinking and analysis skills alongside subject-specific skills through project-based learning.