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I have a strong devotion to the art of pedagogy as I believe that it can make the difference between a student being met at their learning style and helped to thrive academically.  I support an inclusive classroom and seek to maintain as safe and fun learning environment.  Because I believe that incentives are better at motivating students than punishment, I believe in making material interesting, usable, and relevant to students.  By connecting the coursework to their lives and  pre-existing knowledge, I foster interest in the learners and ultimately improve retention.

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I believe that there is no "one-size fits all" approach to pedagogy and, as a result, each student needs a teacher who is willing to understand them as a learner and differentiate their instruction to match the student's needs.  Equally, every student acquires knowledge at different rates and needs to be kept in an ideal zone of development which challenges them to new growth without discouraging them with overwhelming difficulty.  As part of differentiation and selective student collaboration in group work, I strive to create a classroom where students can learn from me and from each other in a way which is always pushing them forward to success.

 

Furthermore, I hold that education is a holistic process not only measured by tests and class performance but also as growth as a human and a member of society.  Consequently, my classroom is aimed at nurturing students to develop skills which benefit them in all areas of life such as cooperation, motivation, veracity, critical thinking, as well as the ability to communicate adeptly and respectfully.  My hope is to make a positive impact on my students during their most important years of development as much as the teachers I had made on me.