Everyone
CAN
Learn
To me, learning is a lifelong process that extends beyond the classroom. It can occur in a variety of settings and is driven by curiosity about the world around us. I believe that learning should be authentic and applicable, rooted in real-world connections. It becomes more engaging when it can be immediately applied to a situation or experience.
At the heart of my philosophy is the belief that everyone has the ability to learn. Each individual possesses unique strengths and potential that can flourish in an environment that encourages questioning and exploration. I constantly remind my students of the importance of lifelong learning, encouraging them to question and seek answers to questions they have about their world.
How do I learn
I learn in a variety of ways; however, I find that I learn best by researching and gathering diverse viewpoints or strategies to synthesize information and make it my own. Although I am currently a math teacher, as a younger learner, I struggled with math because I was only given one way to solve problems. Being told to follow a single procedure made understanding math difficult for me. By exploring various strategies and seeing and hearing different approaches to a single math problem, I can better understand how things work. I enjoy having the time and freedom to explore a topic and make it my own, even in math!
My students and how they learn
I currently teach math to students in grades 6-8 at all academic levels. I teach fully online, and while some may find this challenging, my students have shown that online learning has a dedicated audience. Many of my students enjoy the opportunity to learn with their peers. Despite the online platform, students regularly use breakout rooms, shared documents, and collaboration tools.
I also believe that students learn through various platforms. I have observed my students quickly seek answers on YouTube or use Google to gather information. There are many resources available to help students learn, and not all information comes from me as their teacher. Additionally, I feel that students learn best when they have some control over how they learn. With the online platform, truly differentiated learning is possible!
Reflections of my philosophy in my instruction
As a teacher, I constantly remind myself of what I didn’t like about my math teachers. Unfortunately, my experience as a young math learner was not very positive. However, I have found joy in math, fueled by my learning philosophy and my desire to be different from my former teachers. I work hard to keep my learning philosophy at the forefront of my planning and delivery of math instruction.
I always provide choices for my students and encourage them to discover various ways to solve problems. I also model that I am still a learner by allowing them to take the lead and show me (and the class) what they have discovered. My lessons focus on math discovery rather than direct instruction, and above all, I create a supportive environment that helps my students understand they can be successful in math.
Leave a Reply