I believe first and foremost that every child has the ability and right to learn.  It is my job as an educator to provide the opportunity for that to happen, the support to scaffold taking risks and exploring new ideas, and encourage them to meet their fullest potential.

By creating thoughtful opportunities for students to learn, I allow them to find their own understanding and search to reach planned and unplanned conclusions.   For students to construct knowledge, they need the opportunity to discover for themselves and practice skills in authentic situations.        In my classes, students are able to consistently work in hands-on situations in which they have to manipulate materials and machines to successfully complete a project.  Through doing this, they naturally create their own understanding.

While children are in self-discovery, I am there every step of the way to stand back and support or to actively assist in their exploration and mastery. I am continuously asking higher level thinking questions and pushing them to continue learning.  Students’ ownership allows them to be fully invested in their educations.

     While scaffolding them, I am able to ensure that students reach and continue to push themselves to mastery and beyond.  I, not only, teach curriculum but model respect and acceptance.  A classroom is an environment where students are shaped in many ways, and I believe in making sure that they feel safe to be themselves and always feel respected.  I believe in teaching the whole student.