My teaching philosophy....

I am a constructivist teacher.  This means I believe all children are learners and they construct their knowledge by doing, not just being. I also believe it is up to educators to provide the environment for learning. This can be done by creating a fun, hands-on learning atmosphere in which children are active participants.

Children must also be encouraged and expected to be responsible for their own learning and behavior. My job as a teacher is to facilitate this process.  

Constructivism acknowledges that children learn by being active, engaged participants in the learning process; learning is not passive. It also is grounded in the belief that children learn through social interactions.  Years of research has shown that the Social Learning Theory established by Piaget and Vygotsky are indeed how children (or even adults) acquire new knowledge. This theory is at the core of constructivism.

Listed below are the key components of the Social Learning Theory:

• Children construct (build) knowledge by being involved in the learning process

• Children must be engaged to learn (i.e. we must promote interest in topics/subjects and when possible allow students to explore what is interesting to them)

• Children learn best and learn more naturally through social interactions with their peers

• Collaboration and teamwork when learning has been shown to be an effective teaching practice

• Teachers must use authentic assessments to understand each child's Zone of Proximal Development (this is their "learning" zone) ~ knowing a child's ZPD allows the teacher to match instruction to ability

Brain-based research serves as a useful guide for teachers in understanding how the brain works and how students learn best. (See http://www.brains.org/ for more information.) There are many implications for teachers and parents when applying the brain-based approach to learning and teaching.

Brain-based research shows:

• The brain is a parallel processor (it can do many things at once and it stores information in connected ways, it does not process and store information in isolated fragments) 

• There can be a 5 year difference in maturation between any two "average" children ~ (Thus, knowing every child's ZPD is important!)

• The search for meaning is innate (from birth, the brain seeks to find meaning and patterns in the world)

• Emotions are critical to allowing the brain to find patterns (meaning), as well as effectively storing information

• The brain seeks to be stimulated

Constructivist teachers understand how children learn. They adhere to the principles of brain-based research and the Social Learning Theory and fully believe that all learning should occur in a meaningful, authentic, and relevant context.

Constructivist teachers regularly and systematically do the following:

• Understand that children construct knowledge by being active participants in their own learning

• Use authentic assessments to gain familiarity with each child and his or her individual ZPD 

• "Scaffold" learning to fit the ZPD of each child

• Awaken schema in order for connections to be more easily made in the brain

• Build background knowledge if it is not present (prior schema) in order to allow for greater assimilation of new information

• Modify instruction to fit the needs of diverse and unique learners

• Understand and implement teaching methods that engage children of multiple learning styles

• Encourage and model collaboration (teamwork) 

• Use various methods of instruction, including technology, to reach all learners

• Practice interdisciplinary and integrative teaching and avoid teaching subjects in fragments

• Design lessons that encourage the use of Higher Order Thinking Skills 

• Motivate students to investigate their natural curiosity through inquiry-based lessons 

• Promote cultural awareness and appreciation of differences

• Empower (and expect) children to be accountable for their own learning and behavior

• Celebrate the success of each child

What does all this mean?  In essence, children learn best when:

• They are actively engaged in learning activities

• They are given the freedom and encouragement to explore through inquiry

• They are guided by educators who understand how to facilitate the learning process

                                                            This is called constructivism!

** See the video on the Podcast tab for a great digital explanation of constructivism