Teaching Student’s that Kindness Matters

I believe in providing a safe, productive, and fun learning environment where all students feel confident to act as risk takers with their learning. I feel it is important that I create relationships with all of my students to establish mutual trust and respect, so that I can help them reach their truest potential individually, as well as build a class community.

Strategies I use to create such an environment are morning meetings, modeling, promoting leadership qualities, and being consistent with my teaching day to day. Students in my classroom are held to a high standard, one within their reach, for both their learning and their actions. In my classroom, the use of a morning meeting establishes a sense of community allowing the students and myself to have opportunities to share thoughts, feelings, experiences and laughs. Morning meeting is important as it helps nurture the social-emotional component within my classroom.

I believe learning should be engaging, interesting, and fun! Students are encouraged to collaborate, take risks, learn from their mistakes, as well as learn from each other. The planning of meaningful activities allows my students to work collaboratively, individually, and make real world connections that provide purpose to their learning. Activities include the use of technology, hands-on lessons that allow students to move throughout the classroom, as well as, partner and group work. My instruction often allows students to create, question, communicate and productively struggle on a daily basis. By creating a sense of enthusiasm within my daily instruction, I am able to make learning fun to reach the most reluctant of learners.

Small group instruction affords me the opportunity to make better connections to my learners to promote their individual growth. I use a variety of strategies for learning, provide immediate student feedback, and offer enrichment opportunities to meet the needs of all my learners.

I believe all students can learn within an environment where kindness matters and they feel safe to take risks.