What does the phrase “an equal educational opportunity” mean to me? To me, it means that every student will have the same opportunities to learn and access to the same curriculum.
What am I educating students to achieve? At this point, I think that I will be educating students to achieve the full dimensions of the potential, equipped intellectually and socially for success both as individuals and as members of society. They will be equipped with the knowledge and skills as well as the positive attitudes and social habits to successfully make their way forward in life.
What are your educational goals? I have a number of goals as a teacher. When their high school education is complete my students should be able to think for themselves and be experienced problem-solvers. They should be proficient and equipped with a broad range of academic and social knowledge and skill sets. I want my students to learn (through their experiences in my class) to enjoy and relish the learning process itself and be equipped to be life-long learners.
What methods will I use to attain those goals? Why will you use these goals and methods in your classroom (the justification)? In my coursework and field experiences I hope to develop a broad range of methods of teaching. The best inputs I’ve received so far come from watching my instructors this summer and from the book Teach Like a Champion. I can say a number of things about methodology. First, a cardinal rule in my classroom is that I will always be positive and enthusiastic. A positive attitude is contagious. I will communicate to my students and convince them of the value and satisfaction derived from working hard. Mastery of a subject takes a concentrated effort. I will demonstrate high expectations for my because I think they will consequently have high expectations for themselves. I think my classroom should have a mix of large group, small group, and individualized learning. I see myself presenting material to the entire class and eliciting the active participation of all. I’ve been seeing (in the two courses I’m taking right now) the great benefit of collaborative small groups. I think all of these approaches will prove effective and will provide changes to the pace of the teaching. And I hope to find ways to provide individual attention to students both in the classroom and in before and after school conferences.
How will you take children from very different economic and cultural backgrounds, very different academic skill levels, and engage them all successfully in learning challenging academic material? As a math teacher, I will provide easy to understand explanations and examples of the course material, and will build from the simple to the more complex. I will make myself available after classes to work individually or in small groups with students having difficulty mastering the material. I will insure that the classroom is free of prejudicial behaviors and speech. I will model pluralism by showing respect and appreciation of each student. I don’t expect to be teaching the students about their various cultures, but I will look for and take learning opportunities to have short discussions on the topic of diversity.
What methods and strategies will I use to ensure that my students are all performing at an advanced level? I will use tests and quizes as one means of identifying the students who are not at the level with the rest of the class and will assign work to them to bring them up to speed. I will recapitulate material when I see that not everyone is understanding it. I’ll assign extra work to faltering students and will communicate with their parents. I will request that they obtain one-on-one tutoring.
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