Special Education Teacher Portfolio
"You knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works!" (Psalm 139:13-14)
My Teaching Philosophy
I believe that every child has something to learn. Each day in school, a child benefits in some way. Every moment is a learning experience for a child, whether we as teachers realize it or not. I firmly believe that each child belongs in the least restrictive environment and should feel like he or she is loved and belongs where they are at. I believe that the classroom teacher sets the environment that his or her students learn in, and that the most important part of teaching is making sure that environment is welcoming and a place where students feel loved and cared for, even if they are not enjoying what they are learning, as caring relationships make all the difference when it comes to a child's learning and happiness.
My Classroom Management Philosophy
My classroom management philosophy is strongly grounded in behaviorism, as I plan to incorporate positive and negative reinforcement through spaced repetition. During my student teaching experience and first year of teaching, I worked in a school that implemented Conscious Discipline, an approach I deeply value and intend to carry into every teaching setting I enter. In special education settings, it is essential that behaviors are addressed in a consistent, data-driven manner. The verbiage, protocols, and consequences should remain consistent among all adults working with the student. In special education environments, techniques that are effective for one student may not be effective for another. For this reason, I believe it is important to build classroom management on strong relationships and mutual respect before developing a comprehensive plan.