Miss Berry's Philosophy of Education

Miss Berry's Philosophy of Education:

Assessment Drives Instruction:

Hands-on and Inquiry-based Learning:

Differentiated Instruction:

Assessment and instruction are two inseparable components of teaching. We, as educators, are constantly assessing our students. This ongoing process is the way in which we decide how and when to instruct our students. We can pre-assess to find out what our students already know and understand.

Then, during instruction, we can gather information from formative assessments to gauge how far our students have come and what they have learned so far. As we check in

during the learning process and discover how our students are doing, we can revise our lessons and teaching methods as needed to better accommodate our students. After we have finished teaching a concept we can administer a summative assessment to determine a student's understanding of the material that has been taught.

Every single student is unique in their own way. It is important for us, as educators, to understand that not all students learn in the same manner. Therefore, it is critical that we differentiate instruction so that our student's needs are met at their instructional level. While all of the students in our classroom learn the same content, we can deliver that content through different avenues to help our students better understand the material and succeed. Whether they may need manipulatives to make learning more tangible or extended time to finish a task at hand, all students have the potential to thrive; we just need to give them the appropriate tools to do so.

"Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me, and I learn." These famous words of Benjamin Franklin sum up what we, as teachers, must do in the best interest of our students. We should take these words to heart. It is apparent that our students learn best when they are actively engaged in a hands-on learning experience. Students also are more willing to take part in the learning process if they are able to investigate topics they have a true interest in. We, as their teachers, need to foster their natural desires to inquire about topics and ask questions. Our students need to be allowed to ask authentic questions, research, and then reflect on their learning.

Educating the Whole Child:

Being a Life-long Learner:

Thank you for taking

the time to review my philosophy of education. Just click on the link below to be directed back to my portfolio:

http://berryteachingportfolio.weebly.com

Our students are much more than just a test score on a page, and it is important that we see them fully for who they are as an individual. Their

socio-emotional, creative, physical, and cognitive abilities make up their entire being. While we teach our students different content knowledge in class, it is critical that we also help them develop those other qualities outside of the academic realm.

Albert Einstein once said, "When you stop learning, you start dying." As an educator it is critical that I never stop learning. Teaching strategies, technology, and most importantly, our students, are always changing and evolving. If we, as their teachers, do not continue to grow and change with them we are doing them a disservice. As a life-long learner I can guarantee that I will always continue to be innovative, creative, and flexible when it comes to facing challenges in the workplace.