Gina M.

Fanto

Teaching Philosophy

When it comes to teaching I believe the most vital thing you can do in your

classroom is build a community. Real learning cannot take place in a classroom where

students do not feel valued, safe, accepted, and comfortable. I believe it is of utmost

importance to build positive teacher-student and positive student-student relationships

both inside and outside the classroom. Some strategies incorporate in my classroom to

help build these relationships include the use of mindfulness, yoga, flexible seating

attending student activities and events, greeting each student before they walk in/out of

the classroom, interest surveys, morning meetings, parent involvement, cooperative

learning, and music. I want students to feel that I not only value their education but I

value who they really are, as individuals.

I also believe another important aspect of teaching is incorporating creativity and

the arts into the curriculum. I believe students need the opportunity to be creative which

helps them make connections to themselves and the world outside of the classroom. I also

think that having a strong sense of creativity is a gateway into the success with

performance-based assessments. In order for students to be successful with this they need

to be creative, collaborative, able to make connections, and have problem solving

strategies all of which will blossom in students who are given a classroom that supports

them and allows them to grow.