Teaching Philosophy

My goal is to have an inclusive, multi-cultural classroom, where students from diverse backgrounds feel safe and respected.  I plan to start each morning with a classroom circle on the floor in the front of the room.  I’ll check in with each child, and see if they have any special concerns or announcements.

My educational philosophy leans toward constructivism , but I recognize the value of other types of group learning and direct instruction.  Children learn better when they develop a framework for their new information.  When possible, I let them construct this framework and explore options to solve problems.  I do frequent formative assessment checks during class, and have summative assessment that is tied to state standards. This sounds very clinical, but I work hard to design activities that are fun, informative and scalable depending on student needs.

I’m also very traditional, and feel strongly that everyone needs to know the multiplication and division tables, basic rules of grammar and syntax, writing and communication skills and a few of the classics.  Some of this is done with repetition and rewards, and I work carefully to make sure students have mastered basic concepts as they move forward.

Classroom management relies on buy-in from the students.  I plan to start the school year with an extended period where the students develop the classroom rules.  I will guide the students, but they will develop their own rules and agree to abide them.  In the end each student will have input, and each student will agree to the rules.  Students who participate in these collaborative sessions are able to monitor each other, and can correct or self-correct actions.

Finally, I intend to prepare students to live in the 21^st Century world, not the previous century that I grew up in.  Our students will live in a very different world, and they need new skills that aren’t covered in traditional classroom settings.  They will need experience with new technologies, adaptability, and the ability to communicate in different formats to a variety of audiences.  The arts and social skills are an important part of education, and I plan to use these vehicles to promote diversity and ethical behavior. 

Send problems/comments/suggestions to: tcHorner@csuchico.edu