My Teaching Philosophy
The poster to the left is something I always have posted on the door to my classroom. I want my students to know that when they enter my classroom, they are investigators, explorers, intelligent, important, loved, respected, and the reason why I do what I do every day.
Respect
My entire teaching philosophy is based on the belief that the respect I show my students is the respect I will receive in return. I believe that teachers need to be very student-centered, and I take the time to get to know all of my students on an individual level (even if I have 200 of them!). Although I hold my students to extremely high standards, I am very empathetic, compassionate and a good listener.
Making Mistakes
I believe that students need to feel safe and comfortable in my classroom. The language acquisition process is not easy, and students are bound to make mistakes -- in my opinion errors are a sign that they're learning! Students need to feel safe speaking Spanish, struggling with pronunciation, mixing up word order, conjugating verbs wrong, forgetting vocabulary words, etc. At the beginning of the year, I do a number of activities so that students get to know one another. The classroom community is formed over time, and I make sure that students can learn without fear of failure, and with the ability to succeed based on their individual talents and efforts. One thing that I will never tolerate is bullying, and I make sure that all students are accepted. No disability, cultural or economic difference, social group, etc. will get in the way of that.
Respect
My entire teaching philosophy is based on the belief that the respect I show my students is the respect I will receive in return. I believe that teachers need to be very student-centered, and I take the time to get to know all of my students on an individual level (even if I have 200 of them!). Although I hold my students to extremely high standards, I am very empathetic, compassionate and a good listener.
Making Mistakes
I believe that students need to feel safe and comfortable in my classroom. The language acquisition process is not easy, and students are bound to make mistakes -- in my opinion errors are a sign that they're learning! Students need to feel safe speaking Spanish, struggling with pronunciation, mixing up word order, conjugating verbs wrong, forgetting vocabulary words, etc. At the beginning of the year, I do a number of activities so that students get to know one another. The classroom community is formed over time, and I make sure that students can learn without fear of failure, and with the ability to succeed based on their individual talents and efforts. One thing that I will never tolerate is bullying, and I make sure that all students are accepted. No disability, cultural or economic difference, social group, etc. will get in the way of that.
Improvement and Growth
I also believe that the language acquisition process is a long one, so there is always room for improvement and growth. Students will experience triumphs and struggles, some things will come easier than others. But they need consistent support and input in the target language in order to be successful. I am not afraid to try new things or experiment in the classroom, and I too will have triumphs and struggles. I know that not all students learn the same way, so within any given thematic unit students will have a number of ways of accessing the material - listening, reading a variety of texts, speaking with classmates, telling stories, looking at photos and watching video clips, using manipulatives, reviewing with flashcards and games, etc. I also love when students give me feedback on what is working and what isn't working. When they can truly articulate how they learn best, it helps them with learning in many different content areas.
I also believe that the language acquisition process is a long one, so there is always room for improvement and growth. Students will experience triumphs and struggles, some things will come easier than others. But they need consistent support and input in the target language in order to be successful. I am not afraid to try new things or experiment in the classroom, and I too will have triumphs and struggles. I know that not all students learn the same way, so within any given thematic unit students will have a number of ways of accessing the material - listening, reading a variety of texts, speaking with classmates, telling stories, looking at photos and watching video clips, using manipulatives, reviewing with flashcards and games, etc. I also love when students give me feedback on what is working and what isn't working. When they can truly articulate how they learn best, it helps them with learning in many different content areas.
Student Engagement
Lastly, I work to ensure that my students are not only learning, but engaged during class. My classroom philosophy is that no student should ever want to fall asleep in class, because they are too alert, engaged, and using the target language to communicate with their classmates! I strive to incorporate student interests into my curriculum so that all students develop intrinsic motivation and learn to love Spanish. I always use music in the classroom, because once a students likes a song in Spanish and downloads it on their iPod or cell phone, they've been hooked. Nothing gives me greater joy than a student coming in and saying, "Miss Thompson! I downloaded _____ last night! I love this song! Thanks!" I am so deeply passionate about the Spanish language and do everything in my power to help students develop that same passion. I myself am a lifelong learner and I continue to grow every day. My greatest desire is to help students do the same.
Lastly, I work to ensure that my students are not only learning, but engaged during class. My classroom philosophy is that no student should ever want to fall asleep in class, because they are too alert, engaged, and using the target language to communicate with their classmates! I strive to incorporate student interests into my curriculum so that all students develop intrinsic motivation and learn to love Spanish. I always use music in the classroom, because once a students likes a song in Spanish and downloads it on their iPod or cell phone, they've been hooked. Nothing gives me greater joy than a student coming in and saying, "Miss Thompson! I downloaded _____ last night! I love this song! Thanks!" I am so deeply passionate about the Spanish language and do everything in my power to help students develop that same passion. I myself am a lifelong learner and I continue to grow every day. My greatest desire is to help students do the same.