Pedagogical Creed

As an English Language Arts teacher, I have the opportunity to teach

students about responsibility, respectfulness, hard work, empathy, and
passion through content and by example. Therefore, my classroom and my
behavior need to model what I expect from young people as they move into
adulthood. My classroom will be a safe and inclusive environment that not
only encourages student participation, but rather revolves around student-tostudent learning opportunities. Outside the classroom space, Im a teacher
passionate about learning by finding new strategies and tools to promote
student growth.
To create a safe and inclusive environment students have opportunities
to learn from each other and provide evidence of their learning. These
opportunities demand students participation and promote teamwork and
empathy for each students point of view. In addition, this holds students
accountable and demonstrates individual value by inquiring of the partners
response.
In a supportive classroom, the teacher also needs to value students as
individuals and consistently measure student growth. Throughout the year, I
inquire about students hobbies, home lives, future goals, and content
knowledge by collecting written and verbal responses. These types of
formative assessments allow me to begin to understand my students as
individuals and obtain data more frequently about their content knowledge
growth.
Students must be encouraged to practice their skills and to grow at
their own pace like they are able to in a practice-based classroom. In my
class, the Common Core Standards are the foundation of learning, but
students have an infinite number of test retakes and paper rewrites in order
to obtain mastery. I also use technology to differentiate instruction both in
and out of the classroom. I implemented a class website that has proved
beneficial by providing additional resources outside of the classroom space
for students who want extra practice and for students who need resources
like audio. An environment that resembles a practice-based classroom and
one that differentiates allows students to grow as individuals.
As a professional, I enjoy being challenged with constant individual and
team learning. I relish implementing new technologies, comfortable with the
technology students use and school-implemented programs like Illuminate
Ed for assessment purposes. I also recognize the importance of relying on
expert colleagues in the English department and across departments as a
resource to further my content knowledge and evaluate my teaching
strategies. I welcome the challenge of constantly evaluating my teaching,
learning, and working directly with an expert teaching staff.
My aim is to further students as individuals in ELA content and as
future members of society. I base my units and tests on Common Core
Standards, and challenge my students to practice until they fully master the

standards. I foster a personal passion for learning that I intend to enrich with
individual learning and learning from expert teachers.