Philosophy

My philosophy is that every student deserves a good education and the tools necessary for them to achieve.  I think that every child is worth the time and effort it takes to teach and that despite any difficulties, this must always be honored.  Some students may pose more difficulties than others, whether it be behavioral or a result of a learning, or physical, disability.  Still, each and every student has a right to a good education and a good effort by the teachers and administration that supports them.

I think that education needs to be grounded in psychology.  We need to be able to structure our classes in ways that make sense from a cognitive standpoint.  This means less surface learning and more deep understanding.  Students need to be able to transfer their knowledge to other applications and situations so that it truly becomes useful to them.

I believe that as teachers we need to make social considerations.  We need to think about what cultural and social experiences students bring to their classrooms and utilize them when possible.  I think that this is an excellent way to connect classroom learning to a student's life and to show them that what they are being taught is indeed relevant and useful.

Beyond these aspects education needs to be flexible and adaptive.  This isn't to say that teachers need to adopt every new technique or aspect of education the instant it comes out, but rather that as educators we need to be responsive to the needs of children and the evolving field of education.  We must be grounded in our beliefs and methods but also open to new ways of thinking and strategies in order to meet student needs.