Today reflection will be on establishing supportive learning environments.
The days of authoritarian classroom rules are long gone, there was a time not so long ago when students were expected to comply and not question authority. Students were assigned seats in straight rows, they were not allowed to interrupt the teacher; verbal exchange and discussions were discouraged. Consequently, students under authoritarian rule do not have the opportunity to learn and practice communication skills. Students that deviate from the rules laid out by an authoritarian teacher would be dealt with swiftly and harshly: detention or a trip to the principal’s office. Students in this environment feel powerless which in turn kills ambition, motivation, creativity, and decreases achievement. Furthermore, students feel their teacher is unfair and does not really care about them. Currently teachers must create a classroom environment that focuses on more than just classroom management; respect in the classroom is the order of the day. Respect is a two way street that both students and the teacher must travel down. I will endeavour to conduct my classroom in a fashion that promotes mutual respect between student and teacher; I will inform my students that I am there to direct, guide, and assist their learning. Student – teacher relationships are the key ingredient in creating a harmonious and happy classroom where there is active learning taking place. My philosophy of teaching includes three key elements that are important in the development of young people.
Educate: Education is more than evaluating students, it is about helping to create happy memories that students will carry with them for the rest of their lives. In a tech area such as wood or metal, there is an opportunity for creativity and excitement about the various projects that the students are involved in. Learning takes place best in a positive and safe environment filled with laughter and encouragement. Flexibility is required on an ongoing basis in the technology area in order to respond to a variety of needs of individual learners and a class as a whole.
Motivate: As a technology teacher I have a unique privilege of working with students in a hands on environment which in turn allows me to engage with a student at a practical level which creates situations where I can focus a learner’s attention toward: critical thinking, problem solving, team work, self-directed learning, experiential learning. The skills students learn in a technical education program are transferable skills they can use in many areas of their lives. Every year there are a few students that desire to take their technical education to the next level. It is these students that I especially enjoyed working with and mentoring, as I found their enthusiastic and passionate energy invigorating and it stimulated my own creative juices.
Inspire: I will encourage young people to develop a lifelong love of learning, as I share my own educational journey. As an adult I went back to school in order to further my education and challenge myself proving it is never too late to learn and this is the message I would like to send to my students. I believe that there certain unchanging values in changing times and these must be passed on to every student by modeling. These values include: respect, accountability, good work ethic, and empathy. According to the reading entitled “Student – Teacher Relationships” research supports my philosophy of teaching by stating “that strong and supportive relationships between teachers and students are fundamental to the healthy development of all students in school” and “that over the past 10 years, research on student-teacher relationships has focused on the ways in which these relationships may affect students’ peer relations, parent-child relationships, academic competence, and social and emotional adjustment”. Teachers must never forget the fact they spent more time with young people than many other adults in their lives, and can have a negative or positive impact on the rest of a student’s life.
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