Teaching is a life long journey.

My journey started a young girl standing at my

chalkboard teaching lesson to my stuffed animals. From then my journey has taken a winding
and adventurous path where I have been influenced by teacher, professors and students. Just as
my journey continues, my teaching philosophy will change to reflect to experiences I have had
and continue to have. However, there are certain aspects of my teaching philosophy that are core
beliefs and value that I hold true.
First and foremost I believe that the core of all good teaching lies in connections made
between students and teachers. A teacher can be educated, well-versed in best practices, but its
not until teacher is able to build positive relationships with students that learning begins to
happen. Over the years I have had the opportunity to teacher students with academic, behavioral
and emotional challenges and in each case, I can recall the turning point when a trusting
relationship formed and true learning began. If I were to pick one quote to describe me as a
teacher, I would chose a quote from Uri Bronfenbrenner: Every child needs at least one adult
who is irrationally crazy about him or her. I am irrationally crazy about each and every one of
my students. I am crazy about inspiring them, empowering them, and providing the best
education I can for them on a daily basis. My irrational craziness follows me as I leave the
classroom everyday. It follows me as I think about my students on my drive home, reflecting on
the days instruction and how I can continue to best meet the needs of my students or as I sit
down at night and on weekends planning for further constantly thinking about each and every
students needs, educational, emotional and physical. I am not just their teacher, but I am their
friend, their partner, their confidant and their champion.
Beyond establishing relationships, I hold several beliefs about instructional practices that
guide my teaching.
Classrooms should encourage a growth mindset: A classroom should be designed to
encourage and develop growth mindset within all students. A classroom that encourages
growth mindset is one that fosters students motivation and encourages students to embrace
challenges, become persistent and empowers student learning.
All children have the ability to learn: This holds true to not only students with disabilities,
but also general education students as well. All students have the ability to learn. It is my job as
an educator to engage students and provide instruction that meets the students needs and
learning styles.
Collaboration: As a special education teacher, I have found that collaboration on all levels is
key to success. Special education and general education teachers both play integral roles in
educating student will disabilities. Additionally, special educators must also effectively
collaborate with paraprofessionals, parents, and other service professionals (OT, PT, SLP,
Behaviorist).
Fair doesn't always mean equal: Student with disabilities all have unique and varying needs.
It is important as an educator to not only understand the difference between fair and equal, but
also to educate student on this. Accommodation and modifications within the classroom are
based on students individual needs.

Teachers are lifelong learners: As teachers, we strive to make our students lifelong learners,
but we also must be lifelong learners ourselves. Lifelong learning is a mindset we must instill
in our learners. As a teacher I am eager to participate in professional development opportunities
and continuously learn and implement current research practices.
Learning should be hands on: Much of my instruction as a special educator is direct
instruction. Although it is direct instruction, I continuously make learning activities hand-on.
Hand-on learning engages students in a meaningful manner.
Classrooms must be a comfortable learning environment with clear, positive behavioral
expectations: By setting clear behavioral and instructional expectations, students understand
was is expected of them. Expectation provide a structure for students and in turn provide them
a predictable learning environment.
Student should be engaged in their learning: When students understand what they are
learning and why they are learning, they will take more responsibility over their learning.
Within my classroom, students are active participants in developing their learning goals and
targets (IEP goals), monitor their own progress and are more accountable for their learning.
Student IEP goals are set in a student-friendly language. Each student in my classroom has a
data book in which they are able to record and monitor their own progress. Additionally, at the
beginning of each lesson, students follow a routine process for identifying their target goal for
the day (Today I willSo that I canIll know Ive gotten their when).
Reflective teaching: Reflective teacher is a key component in successful teaching. As a
teacher I reflect on my instruction on a daily basis in my teacher diary. This reflection informs
my future instruction. I am constantly adjusting my lesson based on my reflective teaching.
Other aspects of my reflective teaching comes from progress monitoring data, student feedback
and peer feedback.
Encourage parent involvement: Much research states that parent involvement in their childs
education is critical to students academic success. I believe that there are endless opportunities
to encourage parent involvement. It is important to make parents feel comfortable and
important members of their childs education. Weekly newsletters help to establish home-toschool connections. Additionally I have found that sending home materials to engage parents in
home literacy and math activities are useful in involving parents. As a special educator it is also
crucial to have parents involved in their childs special education processes as well as
providing them with frequent progress updates.