I believe it is important to know each and every learner.
The interest and assets of students are the most important resources teachers have when planning lessons for a student-centered classroom. By taking the time to know students personally, I am able to develop goals with each student and help them achieve these goals. When I understand what motivates each student, I can create a learning environment that is not only engaging, but purposeful.
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I believe that teachers must allow students to be the leaders of the classroom.
This is accomplished by providing structure for academic conversation and opportunities for peer collaboration. Student-centered classrooms are not teacher-led, but rather teacher-guided so that the students are engaged in productive struggle together. With the proper conversation structures modeled and enforced, the struggle becomes dynamic and failures become a natural part of the learning process.
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I believe in developing students' intrinsic motivation to learn.
When students are engaged in topics that dig deep into their natural curiosity, real learning takes place and an intrinsic motivation to learn flourishes. It is my job as a teacher to guide students on this path of exploration so that I can find, nourish, and surface the genius inside each student.
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I plan to build a relationship with my students and their families prior to the first day of school by sending out a letter of introduction and requesting a home visit. "Home visitations by teachers get parents involved in their child's education, and they let parents and children know how much teachers care." - NEA Reviews of the Research on Best Practices in Education