Statement of Teaching Beliefs

As a student growing up, I always loved to help and interact with all of my classmates. Being around people and contributing to their success was very important to me. My mothers example as a grade one teacher helped to form this passion, since she demonstrated a personal investment in the success of each student in her class. By junior high, I had decided to pursue a career in teaching because it involved the two things that I am most passionate about: knowing and helping others. As a teacher, I believe that positive relationships, a flexible teaching style, and a safe learning environment are all essential to a students ability to learn and my ability to impact them. It is extremely important for teachers to constantly build relationships with their students. Making meaningful connections with students helps me to learn more about their families, interests, and lives outside of school. This shows students that I value them, which can greatly impact their learning. One way that I have been able to initiate this process is by introducing a biography assignment on my first day in a class. This provides me with an index of my students that I can refer to at any time. It is also essential that I communicate positively with parents. Knowing that I am invested in their childs learning gives parents much more motivation to support me as a teacher. Collaborating with colleagues is also important, as other teachers can have insight into different students situations, as well as the resources to accommodate various learning styles. In order to adapt to the needs of each student, a teacher must demonstrate a flexible teaching style. Teachers must be able to vary their tactics, strategies, and practices to reach a broader range of students. Although I believe that students can learn in traditional lecture-style classrooms, I think that hands-on experience and practice is necessary for students to fully

understand and apply a concept to real life. In my classes, students are given content and then the opportunity to practice and demonstrate certain skills. However, there are many ways I like to achieve this in the classroom, including through peer teaching, self-reflection, and crosscurricular learning. In one of my lessons, students were given different topics around graphic organizers. Each group of students researched their topic and then presented it to the class in a creative way. Similarly, because students learn in a variety of different ways and at different rates, it is important for my classroom to include a universal design for learning. Thus, my students must be provided with multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement. This includes encouraging students to work both individually and in groups. In my own PE classes, I have given students choice in their activities and demonstration of skills, based upon the skill level they feel most comfortable with. It may take more time to prepare a lesson that offers choice, differentiation, and collaborative work, but it is very beneficial to the students. It also allows me to give students far more personalized feedback and assistance. Most importantly, I believe that it is extremely important to create a safe learning environment for students. Positive relationships and dynamic teaching will never be possible if my students do not feel emotionally and physically safe. In my classroom, students should not be afraid to try new things or even to fail. I will foster an environment where students are affirmed in their successes, and encouraged through their challenges. I want students to feel secure when sharing their opinions and engaging in discussion and activities. To create this environment, my students and I immediately establish expectations and responsibilities within our classroom. Students are also encouraged in their creativity through the provision of reasonable flexibility in how they choose to complete and submit their assignments. In order for my students to improve, I always attempt to provide opportunities for daily formative teacher, peer, or self assessment.

Teacher, peer, and self reflection is important not only for meeting the provincial learning outcomes, but also for students to consider and improve their own skills and abilities. In my classroom, you will observe students exploring new concepts independently and collaboratively. They will build relationships in an environment that provides freedom to learn and create, but that also firmly upholds standards for a successful and safe learning environment. In order to foster this environment, I will demonstrate what it means to be a positive, successful, and safe learner. I want my students to see that I, like them, am learning constantly, and that growth, not perfection, is the goal of education.