Philosophies of Learners and Learning

I believe that every classroom should promote a safe learning environment

with a goal of success for ALL students. I believe in a holistic teaching philosophy
with an emphasis on celebrating differences and uniqueness in various ways and
expanding our education horizons to beyond the curriculum and the classroom. I
believe in inspiring students in the classroom so they can achieve the great things
they have each set out to do.
Here are some key elements for a successful learning environment.

We learn best in an environment that has five key components

active experiential learning
teamwork
ownership
guided review and reflection
PEPSI (Positive, Engaging, Playful, Supportive, Inviting) not SPRITE (Standing and
Presenting Right Information To Everyone)

Bernice McCarthys Leaning Style Theory 4MAT

We each have our preferred way of perceiving and processing experience.
Each of the four ways in which we learn should be celebrated equally as we all
lingers in one of them.
These four ways are built into four quadrants which form a cycle of learning
and we follow it like a clock, going from experiencing and feeling in Q1, to
conceptualizing and thinking (Q2), to processing and doing(Q3), to adapting
and creating (Q4). Complete learning has happened at 11:55, where everyone
has participated successfully. The learning has touched all four quadrants.
There are two axes, Perceiving and Processing. Perceiving is divided into
experiencing and analyzing and processing is divided into reflecting and
acting.
Incorporating Dr. Favaros 4Cs into the cycle: Quadrant 1 Learner ask Why?
Feelers - Connecting. Quadrant 2 Learner ask What? Thinkers - Conveying.
Quadrant 3 Learner ask How? Doers - Coaching. Quadrant 4 Learners ask
What if? Creators Cheering/Celebrating.

All children have intelligence. We have asked the wrong question. We ask how much
we must ask what kind? Mary Meeker

There are many different forms of intelligence and everybody has strengths in
different areas. As a teacher, it is extremely important to know your strengths and
weaknesses but also those of your students in order to gear your classroom to be
able to tap into each of these smarts so there can be success for all students.

Gardners Multiple Intelligences:

Interpersonal People Smart
Intrapersonal Self Smart
Linguistic/Verbal Word Smart
Math/Logical Number Smart
Visual/Spatial Picture Smart
Body/Kinesthetic Movement Smart
Musical Music Smart
Natural Nature Smart
Existential * - ask why are we here, what is our role in the world as
humankind? NEW

The toughest learning, we did existentially learning a language

Key Principles and two essential elements (Frank Smith)
Demonstration
Participation
1) Approximation 2) Leaning by doing
Self Directed and Motivated
* Generalize these principals to ANY learning concept if we want it to be as embedded
as learning language.
Other Key Points to remember:
Let the students learn from each other and teach one another.
Millennial Learners RISK taking is crucial to in depth learning for this age group
(2000+).
Essence of Deep Learning is Emotional Engagement Bernice McCarthy