| My Teaching Style |
What I want students to know, how I know if they have learned it and what I do when students do not learn:
We want our students to master the standards set forth by our school districts. The key to know if they have learned it is "timing". Students must be assessed at
least once a week to make sure they are understanding the material. If not, they should immediately be advised to visit their study hall tutors and/or older student
tutors. The parents should be advised immediately and a plan should be developed which would include a schedule for tutoring and homework. If the student is still
falling behind, the tutoring should become mandatory and more time should be allotted. I firmly believe that all students can be successful in math. I know from
personal experience that not all students learn in the same way. So even if the extra tutoring is not helping, there is still hope. We would just have to revise our plan
to include a different teaching style. The best way to find out how your student learns is to ask the student questions, be flexible, and truly listen. Teaching is a two
way conversation. It's not just a teacher spitting out information. We have to be concerned and thoughtful about how and if our information is being processed.
Why I became a teacher:
I have always been one who “helps others”, and to me, that’s what teaching is. I am there for my students to have as their helper, guide, stepping stone, and mentor.
Our country needs compassionate, caring teachers like me to encourage our young people in a positive, caring way. I would like my students to be able to apply to
the real world what they have learned in my math class. In this way, I am hoping that they will look at the world in a new prospective. I want to help them reach their
potential, whatever it may be for them, not for me. I would like to help them to see the joy of learning and how it doesn’t stop when school is over.
Discipline: Click here for Discipline Style in Detail
I do believe in discipline in the old sense of the word, "Disciple", which really means "to teach". I plan to discipline through giving my students win win choices that will
also develop responsibility, sound decision making skills, and confidence.
Discipline problems stem from not meeting their basic needs as proposed by Dr. Glasser: survival, love and belonging, freedom, power, and fun.
If a child needs lots of attention in class and/or is a constant talker, this child has a strong need for love and belonging and fun. I would tell the student to go to the
timeout area and come up with a reasonable plan for him to fulfill his need to talk and also allow me to continue teaching. When he has come up with a plan he can
come out of the timeout area, and we would discuss his plan after class or while the class is doing their class work. Hopefully his plan will include an agreement by
him that, as long as he is quiet during class, he will be allowed to talk the last 5 minutes of class. If he cannot come up with a plan, then I would ask him if he’d like for
me to help him come up with one. I would also address his needs by giving him jobs such as handing out papers, or leading his group. .
If the child is defiant, I would address his need for power by giving him a few reasonable choices. However, if he refuses to choose one of these choices, he has
stepped over the line and will now be subject to removal to the office or whatever the school policy is for complete defiant behavior. Vulgarity and Violence, and
Bullying would also be subject to the school's policy for that behavior.
Skills necessary to be an outstanding teacher:
An outstanding teacher will try to have verbal contact with every student every day, even if it's just to say hi as they walk in. This alone will invite a learning attitude
from the student.
An outstanding teacher is also a good listener. We need to listen to their questions, fears, and goals, and give them clear, positive choices that develop confidence
and accomplishment. An outstanding teacher is flexible enough to adjust her lesson plans to help those students grow.
I believe that all students' can be reached as long as their needs are met first. This opens up a clear channel for learning. The needs I speak of are Dr. Glasser's
needs: survival, love and belonging, freedom, power, and fun. It is my job to make sure my lessons and my attitude meets these needs in every one of my students.
Sometimes students will fall behind and it may be due to something that happened either at home or at school. I feel it's very important to stay in touch with parents,
coaches, and other teachers in order to make sure our students don't slip through the cracks.
Everything I mentioned above can be summed up with two words: "I care".
How I would address a wide range of skills and abilities in my classroom?
I believe that not all students will learn in the same way and at the same pace, and I am prepared to work with my students according to their specific needs.
Accelerated students thrive at tutoring others. This type of atmosphere can be nurtured through creative small groups. So I would encourage group learning. This
would entail similar groups working together on some days and then advanced learners tutoring the slower learners on a different day.
Sometimes a big assignment is too overwhelming. Some students do better if you break up an assignment into smaller parts with frequent due dates. This also
teaches the students how to manage their time. Confidence starts to build because they are experiencing success.
My education idol is Salman from the Khan Academy. His desire is to educate the world for free. I believe that Bill Gates is now backing him. His You Tube videos
are amazing and easy for the learner to understand. He has videos on every subject. He talks in real language that students can understand. And he is so friendly
and humorous as well. He also has a website www.khanacademy.org He has been implementing a new approach to teaching whereby the classrooms are "flipped".
In other words, the students are assigned one of his videos for homework and then work on the problems in the classroom with the teacher and his peers. Every
student has a dashboard and moves along at his own pace. The teacher can see what areas need improvement just by glancing at the dashboard, and then adjust
the class assignments as necessary for each individual student. This approach has had amazing success. I believe he has the right idea for the future of education.
My Philosophy of teaching:
1. To encourage the joy of learning and watch it unfold through the eyes of a child or teen.
2. To inspire our young people and then watch them grow strong in mind and spirit.
3. To interact with young minds and mentor them through their formative years.
Technology in the classroom:
Technology in the classroom is the best way for our country to stay afloat in this global economy. I am updating my 7-12 math certificate by taking these 6 online tech
related courses: Microsoft Powerpoint in the Classroom, Microsoft Excel in the Classroom, Solving Classroom Discipline Problems I, Teaching Smarter with Smart
Boards, Creating a Classroom Website, and Solving Classroom Discipline Problems II. I have finished the first 3 classes and will be finished with the last 3
approximately August 5, 2011. I am hoping that these courses will help me to stand out among the other candidates. I am very computer oriented and would love to
use this technology in my classroom. I am willing to relocate and take any other course work necessary to work at your school.
Why am I the best candidate?
Even though I do not have a 4.0, I have determination, and my mother always told me that persistence and hard work will always get you where you need to be. I live
by this motto, and I want to instill this in my students. I have a lot of heart and I don't give up on people or myself very easily. I stay till the end.
I am sure there are other candidates that have this staying power as well, but this trait along with my computer skills, life experiences, my caring, positive and fun
nature, make me the best person to teach our teens of today. The fact that I raised two highly successful girls should also be mentioned. See Cover letter for their
successes.
How much do I need to know about my students:
Sometimes students will fall behind and it may be due to something that happened either at home or at school. I feel it's very important to stay in touch with parents,
coaches, and other teachers in order to make sure our students don't slip through the cracks.
I would also want to know their likes, dislikes, and hobbies so that I can adopt my lesson plan to be more stimulating to them.
How I would handle an Angry Parent:
Hopefully, the parents of my students will never get to this point because I would have called them early on in the semester to alert them, and together, we would have
already had a plan in place. However, if this should happen, I would listen and answer their questions reflectively. I would ask them if there is anything that they have
tried in the past that seemed to work. If they don’t have any suggestions, I would invite the parent to work with me on a plan for the future which would involve,
tutoring, and making sure homework is completed. I would suggest the student be tutored after school with either another student or the school tutor. I would ask the
parent to set aside a time frame at home for homework only, and make sure the homework is done by checking the website for the homework schedule. I would also
be prepared to present the test scores and notes pertaining to this student in order to get a more detailed look at what areas need the most attention.
Types of students can I teach most effectively?
All types of students' can be reached as long as their needs are met first. This opens up a clear channel for learning. The needs I speak of are Dr. Glasser's needs:
survival, love and belonging, freedom, power, and fun. It is my job to make sure my lesson and my attitude meets these needs in every one of my students.
Obviously, the easiest students to teach are the ones that meet Dr. Glasser’s needs intrinsically. But all students can be taught effectively once I open up the
channels of communication by finding out what need is not being satisfied, and then coming up with a new plan.
How I help students succeed?
The way to help students succeed is to listen to their questions, fears, and goals, and give them clear positive choices that develop confidence and accomplishment.
Best Way to Communicate with Parents:
Phone calls are still the best way to communicate with parents. It's more personal and shows that you truly care about their child. If possible, I would also have a
weekly voice mail recording and/or internet posting summarizing my lessons and what the parents can do to support the lesson.
3 things to know about my students:
1. Their goals - And if they do not have any goals I would inquire if they would like some help in establishing some.
2. Their fears - Teenage students many times don't show their fears to shield them from embarrassment.
3. Their questions - I am approachable.
What I need to know before planning a lesson:
1. The ability of my students. I would give them a short pretest prior to each lesson.
2. I would want to know their hobbies and interests so that I could gear my math intro to include the topics that will get and keep their attention.
3. I'd want to know my objective for this lesson.
4 key components of a good lesson plan:
1. A summary of what I want them to take away from this lesson.
2. The resources that I will be using, both tangible (ppt presentation, blackboard, smart boards, overhead), as well as my informative sources such as boooks,
websites, etc...
3. A short quiz at the end of the lesson to make sure they understood it.
4. Given the quiz results, I will make changes to my lesson for the future and also, the next day, I would revisit any concepts that were misunderstood.
Major ways I want to influence my students’ lives:
1. I want my students to look at learning as a positive, rewarding experience, and remember that, with perseverance, they can reach their goals.
2. I want them to never be afraid to ask questions, and if they cannot find the answer at first, go to the next source until they are satisfied.
3. I would like my students to be able to apply to the real world what they have learned in my math class, and look at the world in a new prospective.
4. I want to help them reach their potential, whatever it may be for them, not for me.
5. I would like to help them to see the joy of learning and how it doesn’t stop when school is over.
The most effective ways to access student learning:
1. Pre-unit quiz to see what they know now.
2. A mid-unit quiz to see if I need to adjust my technique, re-visit a topic, or give individual attention.
3. A final quiz or test after the unit, and at the end of the semester.
What I expect from the administration:
1. To provide a safe environment for the students and staff.
2. To foster communication between the parents, teachers, and administrators.
3. To provide curriculum that produces successful, clear thinking graduates.
4. To encourage communication between teachers in order to help struggling students.
Student Teaching Experience:
The real estate project that I describe in my cover letter was truly a rewarding experience. It gave me the confidence and encouragement that says, yes, our students
are hungry for this type of instruction. Role playing and hands on learning have always been very important to me so I was very happy to see that it was going to
leave a lasting impression in their minds.
Another reason why I enjoyed my student teaching experience was the Math textbook from The University of Chicago's Series Textbooks. Those books always
introduced a chapter with a real example, followed by many more story problems using the lesson's key points. I know that story problems are feared by most
students, but since this series starts them out in 5th grade, learning in this manner would become second nature by the time they reached high school.
2 Core Teaching Strategies I prefer:
1. Inquiry-based Instruction -
I like this approach because it allows a student to use their cognitive skills to hypothesize about a problem. This gives us all a focus to either prove or disprove,
which we then do by addressing the logic behind the lesson at hand. Standard teacher based instruction can follow, but it is laced with inquiry throughout.
2. Cooperative learning– small groups to elaborate on lessons.
I would assign each small group a real life problem to solve that reflects on the lesson just learned. I believe this is a great way for them to start learning how to
be a team player and prepare them for a work environment after they graduate. It also instills a sense of power for them. This is their classroom and they are
solving real problems.
We want our students to master the standards set forth by our school districts. The key to know if they have learned it is "timing". Students must be assessed at
least once a week to make sure they are understanding the material. If not, they should immediately be advised to visit their study hall tutors and/or older student
tutors. The parents should be advised immediately and a plan should be developed which would include a schedule for tutoring and homework. If the student is still
falling behind, the tutoring should become mandatory and more time should be allotted. I firmly believe that all students can be successful in math. I know from
personal experience that not all students learn in the same way. So even if the extra tutoring is not helping, there is still hope. We would just have to revise our plan
to include a different teaching style. The best way to find out how your student learns is to ask the student questions, be flexible, and truly listen. Teaching is a two
way conversation. It's not just a teacher spitting out information. We have to be concerned and thoughtful about how and if our information is being processed.
Why I became a teacher:
I have always been one who “helps others”, and to me, that’s what teaching is. I am there for my students to have as their helper, guide, stepping stone, and mentor.
Our country needs compassionate, caring teachers like me to encourage our young people in a positive, caring way. I would like my students to be able to apply to
the real world what they have learned in my math class. In this way, I am hoping that they will look at the world in a new prospective. I want to help them reach their
potential, whatever it may be for them, not for me. I would like to help them to see the joy of learning and how it doesn’t stop when school is over.
Discipline: Click here for Discipline Style in Detail
I do believe in discipline in the old sense of the word, "Disciple", which really means "to teach". I plan to discipline through giving my students win win choices that will
also develop responsibility, sound decision making skills, and confidence.
Discipline problems stem from not meeting their basic needs as proposed by Dr. Glasser: survival, love and belonging, freedom, power, and fun.
If a child needs lots of attention in class and/or is a constant talker, this child has a strong need for love and belonging and fun. I would tell the student to go to the
timeout area and come up with a reasonable plan for him to fulfill his need to talk and also allow me to continue teaching. When he has come up with a plan he can
come out of the timeout area, and we would discuss his plan after class or while the class is doing their class work. Hopefully his plan will include an agreement by
him that, as long as he is quiet during class, he will be allowed to talk the last 5 minutes of class. If he cannot come up with a plan, then I would ask him if he’d like for
me to help him come up with one. I would also address his needs by giving him jobs such as handing out papers, or leading his group. .
If the child is defiant, I would address his need for power by giving him a few reasonable choices. However, if he refuses to choose one of these choices, he has
stepped over the line and will now be subject to removal to the office or whatever the school policy is for complete defiant behavior. Vulgarity and Violence, and
Bullying would also be subject to the school's policy for that behavior.
Skills necessary to be an outstanding teacher:
An outstanding teacher will try to have verbal contact with every student every day, even if it's just to say hi as they walk in. This alone will invite a learning attitude
from the student.
An outstanding teacher is also a good listener. We need to listen to their questions, fears, and goals, and give them clear, positive choices that develop confidence
and accomplishment. An outstanding teacher is flexible enough to adjust her lesson plans to help those students grow.
I believe that all students' can be reached as long as their needs are met first. This opens up a clear channel for learning. The needs I speak of are Dr. Glasser's
needs: survival, love and belonging, freedom, power, and fun. It is my job to make sure my lessons and my attitude meets these needs in every one of my students.
Sometimes students will fall behind and it may be due to something that happened either at home or at school. I feel it's very important to stay in touch with parents,
coaches, and other teachers in order to make sure our students don't slip through the cracks.
Everything I mentioned above can be summed up with two words: "I care".
How I would address a wide range of skills and abilities in my classroom?
I believe that not all students will learn in the same way and at the same pace, and I am prepared to work with my students according to their specific needs.
Accelerated students thrive at tutoring others. This type of atmosphere can be nurtured through creative small groups. So I would encourage group learning. This
would entail similar groups working together on some days and then advanced learners tutoring the slower learners on a different day.
Sometimes a big assignment is too overwhelming. Some students do better if you break up an assignment into smaller parts with frequent due dates. This also
teaches the students how to manage their time. Confidence starts to build because they are experiencing success.
My education idol is Salman from the Khan Academy. His desire is to educate the world for free. I believe that Bill Gates is now backing him. His You Tube videos
are amazing and easy for the learner to understand. He has videos on every subject. He talks in real language that students can understand. And he is so friendly
and humorous as well. He also has a website www.khanacademy.org He has been implementing a new approach to teaching whereby the classrooms are "flipped".
In other words, the students are assigned one of his videos for homework and then work on the problems in the classroom with the teacher and his peers. Every
student has a dashboard and moves along at his own pace. The teacher can see what areas need improvement just by glancing at the dashboard, and then adjust
the class assignments as necessary for each individual student. This approach has had amazing success. I believe he has the right idea for the future of education.
My Philosophy of teaching:
1. To encourage the joy of learning and watch it unfold through the eyes of a child or teen.
2. To inspire our young people and then watch them grow strong in mind and spirit.
3. To interact with young minds and mentor them through their formative years.
Technology in the classroom:
Technology in the classroom is the best way for our country to stay afloat in this global economy. I am updating my 7-12 math certificate by taking these 6 online tech
related courses: Microsoft Powerpoint in the Classroom, Microsoft Excel in the Classroom, Solving Classroom Discipline Problems I, Teaching Smarter with Smart
Boards, Creating a Classroom Website, and Solving Classroom Discipline Problems II. I have finished the first 3 classes and will be finished with the last 3
approximately August 5, 2011. I am hoping that these courses will help me to stand out among the other candidates. I am very computer oriented and would love to
use this technology in my classroom. I am willing to relocate and take any other course work necessary to work at your school.
Why am I the best candidate?
Even though I do not have a 4.0, I have determination, and my mother always told me that persistence and hard work will always get you where you need to be. I live
by this motto, and I want to instill this in my students. I have a lot of heart and I don't give up on people or myself very easily. I stay till the end.
I am sure there are other candidates that have this staying power as well, but this trait along with my computer skills, life experiences, my caring, positive and fun
nature, make me the best person to teach our teens of today. The fact that I raised two highly successful girls should also be mentioned. See Cover letter for their
successes.
How much do I need to know about my students:
Sometimes students will fall behind and it may be due to something that happened either at home or at school. I feel it's very important to stay in touch with parents,
coaches, and other teachers in order to make sure our students don't slip through the cracks.
I would also want to know their likes, dislikes, and hobbies so that I can adopt my lesson plan to be more stimulating to them.
How I would handle an Angry Parent:
Hopefully, the parents of my students will never get to this point because I would have called them early on in the semester to alert them, and together, we would have
already had a plan in place. However, if this should happen, I would listen and answer their questions reflectively. I would ask them if there is anything that they have
tried in the past that seemed to work. If they don’t have any suggestions, I would invite the parent to work with me on a plan for the future which would involve,
tutoring, and making sure homework is completed. I would suggest the student be tutored after school with either another student or the school tutor. I would ask the
parent to set aside a time frame at home for homework only, and make sure the homework is done by checking the website for the homework schedule. I would also
be prepared to present the test scores and notes pertaining to this student in order to get a more detailed look at what areas need the most attention.
Types of students can I teach most effectively?
All types of students' can be reached as long as their needs are met first. This opens up a clear channel for learning. The needs I speak of are Dr. Glasser's needs:
survival, love and belonging, freedom, power, and fun. It is my job to make sure my lesson and my attitude meets these needs in every one of my students.
Obviously, the easiest students to teach are the ones that meet Dr. Glasser’s needs intrinsically. But all students can be taught effectively once I open up the
channels of communication by finding out what need is not being satisfied, and then coming up with a new plan.
How I help students succeed?
The way to help students succeed is to listen to their questions, fears, and goals, and give them clear positive choices that develop confidence and accomplishment.
Best Way to Communicate with Parents:
Phone calls are still the best way to communicate with parents. It's more personal and shows that you truly care about their child. If possible, I would also have a
weekly voice mail recording and/or internet posting summarizing my lessons and what the parents can do to support the lesson.
3 things to know about my students:
1. Their goals - And if they do not have any goals I would inquire if they would like some help in establishing some.
2. Their fears - Teenage students many times don't show their fears to shield them from embarrassment.
3. Their questions - I am approachable.
What I need to know before planning a lesson:
1. The ability of my students. I would give them a short pretest prior to each lesson.
2. I would want to know their hobbies and interests so that I could gear my math intro to include the topics that will get and keep their attention.
3. I'd want to know my objective for this lesson.
4 key components of a good lesson plan:
1. A summary of what I want them to take away from this lesson.
2. The resources that I will be using, both tangible (ppt presentation, blackboard, smart boards, overhead), as well as my informative sources such as boooks,
websites, etc...
3. A short quiz at the end of the lesson to make sure they understood it.
4. Given the quiz results, I will make changes to my lesson for the future and also, the next day, I would revisit any concepts that were misunderstood.
Major ways I want to influence my students’ lives:
1. I want my students to look at learning as a positive, rewarding experience, and remember that, with perseverance, they can reach their goals.
2. I want them to never be afraid to ask questions, and if they cannot find the answer at first, go to the next source until they are satisfied.
3. I would like my students to be able to apply to the real world what they have learned in my math class, and look at the world in a new prospective.
4. I want to help them reach their potential, whatever it may be for them, not for me.
5. I would like to help them to see the joy of learning and how it doesn’t stop when school is over.
The most effective ways to access student learning:
1. Pre-unit quiz to see what they know now.
2. A mid-unit quiz to see if I need to adjust my technique, re-visit a topic, or give individual attention.
3. A final quiz or test after the unit, and at the end of the semester.
What I expect from the administration:
1. To provide a safe environment for the students and staff.
2. To foster communication between the parents, teachers, and administrators.
3. To provide curriculum that produces successful, clear thinking graduates.
4. To encourage communication between teachers in order to help struggling students.
Student Teaching Experience:
The real estate project that I describe in my cover letter was truly a rewarding experience. It gave me the confidence and encouragement that says, yes, our students
are hungry for this type of instruction. Role playing and hands on learning have always been very important to me so I was very happy to see that it was going to
leave a lasting impression in their minds.
Another reason why I enjoyed my student teaching experience was the Math textbook from The University of Chicago's Series Textbooks. Those books always
introduced a chapter with a real example, followed by many more story problems using the lesson's key points. I know that story problems are feared by most
students, but since this series starts them out in 5th grade, learning in this manner would become second nature by the time they reached high school.
2 Core Teaching Strategies I prefer:
1. Inquiry-based Instruction -
I like this approach because it allows a student to use their cognitive skills to hypothesize about a problem. This gives us all a focus to either prove or disprove,
which we then do by addressing the logic behind the lesson at hand. Standard teacher based instruction can follow, but it is laced with inquiry throughout.
2. Cooperative learning– small groups to elaborate on lessons.
I would assign each small group a real life problem to solve that reflects on the lesson just learned. I believe this is a great way for them to start learning how to
be a team player and prepare them for a work environment after they graduate. It also instills a sense of power for them. This is their classroom and they are
solving real problems.
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