Values

Diversity

Diversity is very important to me. Growing up I have felt out of place at times and I would never want my students to feel that way. I want to make sure that every student in my class feels important and welcome. I feel that diversity should be celebrated and students should have the opportunity to share what makes them unique with their classmates. I would like to emphasize the importance of celebrating the various traditions from each culture that is present in my classroom. Of course, I am not an expert but with the help of parents, students, and the internet I am sure I can succeed. For example, teaching various cultural dances. The picture above was taken when I taught bhangra to my fellow teacher candidates.

Inclusivity

Inclusivity is also very important to me. I have seen the divide within classrooms where some students are isolated, or are taken out of the group setting to learn. This truly breaks my heart. I believe that all students should be present within a classroom. Of course, not all students learn at the same pace but I strongly believe that they can be part of the learning if it is adapted to their needs. Students with exceptionalities should be treated no less than any other student in the classroom.

Goals

Assessment

I would like to continue learning about the various ways I can use assessment which would actually be beneficial to my elementary students. Since there are diverse students, teachers should provide options when it comes to students being able to showcase their learning. There is much more to assessment than spitting out information with a pen and paper. It is essential for students to draw a connection to their learning and be able to see their progress. For example, a portfolio is a great way for students to express their learning journey. These can be done as a scrapbook, online, movie, there are endless possibilities. I personally love to add my own creative spin to assignments so I would like to give that opportunity to my students as well.

First Peoples

Something I would also like to work on is increasing my understanding of First Peoples. Growing up I didn’t know much about the culture but I think it is important to be aware, and to share this awareness with my students. Not being an expert means that I need to do my research and be able to find those individuals in my community who can help me embed the First Peoples Principles of Learning into my classroom. I know that with a strong support system I can enrich my students with the culture. I have learned so much about First Peoples within my BEd and I have gained lots of great ideas that I could use within my classroom but there is always room to grow our understanding.