"EDUCATION IS NOT THE FILLING OF A PAIL, BUT THE LIGHTING OF A FIRE."
—WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS
Do my students know I care about them? What exactly do I know about the kids who sit in my classroom? Is this lesson relevant to my students? What can I be doing better to help out this struggling child? Being a teacher is far more than standing in front of a group of students providing information. While this is a very large part of my daily activities, I am also a sounding board, an injury checker, a tailor, a captive audience, a coach, and an advocate. My students are the reason I come to work each morning.
After everything is said and done, students have come and gone, I believe the interactions I have with my students have a far greater impact on their growth then any content lesson I could ever teach. After teaching for ten years in Aberdeen, I have come into contact with former students in a variety of functions from church to community theatre. It never fails that while conversing with my former students they will begin a sentence with ‘remember that one time.’ I hope that my influence on students has a long-lasting positive impact. I know that is impossible to reach every student on the same level, but that does not mean I am ever going to stop trying.
After everything is said and done, students have come and gone, I believe the interactions I have with my students have a far greater impact on their growth then any content lesson I could ever teach. After teaching for ten years in Aberdeen, I have come into contact with former students in a variety of functions from church to community theatre. It never fails that while conversing with my former students they will begin a sentence with ‘remember that one time.’ I hope that my influence on students has a long-lasting positive impact. I know that is impossible to reach every student on the same level, but that does not mean I am ever going to stop trying.
A haven for learning
Students at Simmons Middle School come from a variety of home situations, some wholesome, some not. For some of these children, school becomes a safe haven where they can find their own independence and sense of self. In order for students to have the confidence to share potentially difficult situations, they need to have a feeling of safety. Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs places safety at the foundation. I strive to foster an environment of safety within my classroom for every student every day. I want students to feel comfortable enough to share with me if they choose, or confident that their requests to speak with the school counselor will be taken seriously.
leSSON eXAMPLES
The lessons demonstrate a commitment to each student's unique individual needs, while still achieving the desired learning objectives for the curriculum content. Each lesson title below is a link to a lesson plan, work samples and teacher's reflection.