Motivational Strategies
"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery."
- Mark Van Duren
Knowledge & Philosophy
In my classroom, I strive for my students to be intrinsically motivated to learn. I want them to feel as a valued member of the classroom community, it is their duty to stay engaged and curious throughout the school day. I aim to challenge students to lean into their curiousities and believe that they can learn absolutely anything. I strive for students to feel independence in their education, and therefore control over their environment and experience.
Growth Mindset
My classroom will operate under a growth mindset. As the teacher, I will actively model this for students in every day settings and foster discussions about mindset throughout the year. Encouraging posters will cover the room, reminding students to believe in themselves. The power of mindset can dramatically alter a stuent's academic performance, but it is not innate. Fostering a growth mindset must be an active daily practice. Students are encouraged to challenge limiting beliefs and reframe negative thought patterns.
This practice connects with the educational theorist William Glasser, because I aim to lead by example. Rather than just disucssing these strategies, I will model them frequently in the classroom.
Brain Breaks
For young learners to remain engaged, it is important they are physcially active. In order to "get our wiggles out" we use GoNoodle dances to keep us refreshed throughout the day. This site can be accessed using the button below.
Kindness Rocks! jar
For students to maintain an atmosphere of a friendly community of learners, kind behavior is encouraged. Many class discussions about kindness, friendship, inclusion and gratitude will take place. When students are "caught being kind" by the teacher, they will be instructed to place a rock in the class kindness jar. When the whole jar is full, the class can vote on a celebration activity (free draw, GoNoodle, extra recess minutes). It's important as a classroom community to share goals, and, well, kindness rocks!