My Teaching Philospohy

I've been teaching for 11 years now and still am amazed every year by how passionate students can be if you show them something to be passionate about.  I feel that the type of student has drastically changed over the last decade and growing up in today's society is nothing like we experieinced as kids. People say their brains are hardwired differently, so doesn't that mean that my teaching style must also change to meet these new brains?
This is where I feel one old school teaching idea still comes into play.  We use the student's strengths to help them achieve greatness.  By using technology in daily lessons, I am not only playing to their strengths, but they are also using tools that are available to them in the real world.  Technology isn't doing the thinking for them, mind you, it is helping them critically think around problems that didn't seem possible before.  Seeing the creative thinking process of a student using technology to further their knowledge is exciting to see, and I'm glad I can help facilitate technology in curriculum.  


 Just for fun, do you remember your first computer? Mine? A Commodore 64 (if you don't count the Intelivision).

3 things I have learned from this AQ course:

• As always, sharing and discussing with other teachers is a valuable resource. I've been introduced to Web tools and ways of teaching I haven't thought of before
• Trying something new. It's not easy to find the time to try new programs and this course made me create projects I may not have tried earlier
• Take an outside look at my teaching styles and using technology effectively for all my students.

To become a better leader:

• Have more regularly schedule PD in the school that reflects what teachers are doing in class
• Create a showcase of programs and why you would use them in the classroom with handouts and tutorials so teachers can have easy access to learn them.
• Create an organized resource bank of programs by curriculum and grade for teachers to use.