Lauren K. Zebula
Philosophy of Teaching
Being an effective teacher, in any subject area or level, requires a special set of skills and the right attitude. Teachers must be enthusiastic about the content that they teach, while finding ways to differentiate the way in which they deliver it. We must live up to state curriculum standards, yet keep our primary focus on the students. We must be able to transmit academic knowledge while instilling in our students lifelong skills that a transferable to others subjects and other areas of life. These are the skills that I possess and my beliefs in teaching that drive my instruction.
In order for students to have a successful learning experience, I feel it is important as a teaching to create a warm, inviting, open and safe environment. Students must feel that the time they are at school, if no other time in their lives, is somewhere they can do not have to worry about what is going on around them. It should be a place where they can openly express their opinions, while respecting the opinions of others. They must feel welcome and have a support system they rely on. Finally, I want them to feel that my classroom is a place where they can be successful, because I believe in them.
I feel it is important to help my students become productive and worldly citizens. I believe in doing this by teaching students social skills and morals, which they can carry with them throughout their lives. In the ever increasingly global society we live in, it is important to incorporate a variety of cultures into my Spanish language instruction. This can be achieved not only in my Spanish classroom, but also in my science instruction by looking at the cultures of where our past scientists have come from and where our future scientific discoveries can take us in this world.
My beliefs and practices in teaching are the result of a very student minded approach. They stem from the fact that I know very few of my students will continue on with a career in science or to fluency in Spanish. What I instead feel is important is that I help my students meet the state curriculum standards in each of the content areas, while providing an environment which fosters learning. By having an effective learning environment with that focuses on students, I feel I can help to guide them on the right path towards a successful future by, in my classroom, providing them with the tools, skills and mindset to get there.
By Lauren Zebula
Geisler MS Students Discovering Other Cultures
I feel it is important to teach students skills that they can carry with them throughout their lives. Working in partners, small groups and as a class, teaches students to work with others, including those different from themselves. Advancing their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, even when it is in a second language, are practices they can take with them into their future courses and careers. When students perform chemistry experiments, they are looking for information and solutions to resolve a question or a problem. These types of things build problem solving skills. When students are challenged to examine the grammatical structures and interpret literary texts of another language, this builds critical thinking skills. Finally, I believe if teach them a love for learning and an enthusiasm about inquiry, and then I can help turn them into lifelong learners. Whether students are performing scientific inquiry or demonstrating their knowledge of another language and culture, students must build transferable skills that are applicable beyond the scope of my classroom.
World Language Standards
Image Courtesy of www.actfl.org