My Views of Teaching and Learning

Meaningful connections and experiences in learning happen when...

Students are challenged, supported, and are in a positive learning environment. They need to know their teacher is interested in their academic and personal growth within and outside the classroom. I know from my own experiences that the best teachers maintained their professionalism and didn't get too buddy-buddy with their students, nor favor students. Teachers that create interesting, exploratory, student-directed lessons and opportunities to learning will encourage positive perspectives on learning and education. Teachers that create a safe learning environment and build trust and confidence with their students will help them feel comfortable in the classroom and know the teacher is approachable for extra assistance, to discuss concerns, and answer questions. Also, making sure that their academic learning is connected to real-life experiences is critical, so students, in turn, develop positive attitudes towards their academic careers and their role in society.

A constructive learning environment occurs when...

The teacher respects the students, is structured, creative, and empathetic. Ensure that students are comfortable in the classroom and have opportunities to work with peers is critical. Being a positive role model and demonstrating appropriate behavior with staff and students will help them feel safe and respected. The teacher needs to demonstrate good classroom management skills by monitoring and facilitating activities and dealing with discipline issues in a timely and appropriate manner, requesting staff support when necessary. The teacher needs to be flexible and understanding of students social-emotional needs, allowing students to come to them with questions and concerns--this can occur by creating a trusting environment at the onset of the school year. My best teachers were aware of social relations and quick to mediate when appropriate and necessary--and I can certainly tap into personal experiences and relate them to students in an age/developmentally appropriate manner.



Media literacy as part of MS curriculum can be a core component for creating informed citizens in the 21st century...

Media literacy can be used to pique students' interests while  building critical thinking and problem solving skills. Because media is ever more available online, students have an advantage to utilize them for research, generating new ideas, becoming more linked into both national and international society and issues, as well as see what other middle school students are up to. Skype, blogging, social media and resources allow them to connect with young adolescents from around the nation and world. Teachers can utilize media for providing more interesting and creative lessons--graphic organizers, developing writing, reading and math skills, and have more available ways to approach assignments (blogs, essays, videos, podcasts, graphic novels, power point presentations, interactive learning with other students). By developing media literacy, students can tune into their own learning styles and interests and, in turn, have opportunities to build critical skills that reflect their academic progress in ways that represent them individually.  They can also develop skills to critically reflect on the diversity of opinions, perspectives and cultural attitudes which they will have to face in real-world situations, as well as becoming more selective with what they want to read and learn about. The more students have opportunities to engage in meaningful and productive learning opportunities, the greater chances they will have for becoming informed, active citizens both within and outside of their communities.