My educational philosophy has been based on the premise that :
I believe that

Every child can learn and has the potential to succeed.
Every student is an individual and has their own individual learning style.
Every student should be assessed in the way that allows them to best express their abilities.

Learning should be student centered & curriculum based on the needs of the students in align with the state standards as a guide.
Learning should be authentic and interdisciplinary.
Learning should be interactive, engaging and creative. If the student is not engaged , able to interact with the teacher & able to express one self creatively than learning is no longer taking place bc the student has checked out:(.

The classroom climate is set by the teacher's attitude which should be positive & focused on the progress & attempts by learner not just the result.
The classroom creates a family of learners, working together for the common goal of learning a little bit more each day & encouraging all attempts to take risks in their educational journey!
The classroom should be a safe, inviting and stimulating environment where depending on the needs of each learner is student focused or teacher directed / modeled .

As a teacher , my main goal is to get to know each child & see what motivates them to just "try" & take a risk (whether it's getting their mouth ready to sound out a word or holding their pencil & trying to write any part of the first letter of just/her name & to access their unique style of learning & provide engaging , creative, brain growing lessons. I don't believe that any individual whether child or adult is able to grow in their learning if they are scared of a negative consequence to their attempt to try & take a risk in their learning. Positive reinforcement & praising my student for their attempts & getting the student to try a little bit more each time we meet is my way of creating a learning environment engaging to all. I meet my student where they are at & take them where they need to be!

As a parent of three drastically different but so unique & gifted kiddos in their own way; I have celebrated their attempts as well as their accomplishments.The simple mottos of "just try" & "mistakes are proof of us trying in our house" led to two honor roll students in high school & my youngest in the gifted self-contained program. I taught all three of my children to read & print when their fathers work had us traveling most of the year. It was challenging & so fun ... but learning should be:)!

The most important thing I did as a parent & educator at that time was to learn a new skill while teaching my kids because it helped me empathize so much with all the information overload that we have a tendency to put on their growing brains & it reminded me of what it feels like to not get something right away when it is so easy for everyone else. Because of my ADHD this skill was so hard & so challenging to learn bc there was so much information & it was all new! Normally that would be fine but all of the students learning with me picked it up so easily . I had to work twice as hard & study twice as hard as my fellow students but it was totally worth it . Not only was it worth it for me to take risks & keep trying even though I didn't get it (boy , I was frustrated at times)but it immensely helped as a parent & educator to slow down , to celebrate any & all attempts made , and to breathe ...with enough practice, patience & encouragement my kids or students would get it. My main objective with your child is to give them courage to take risks with me & feel safe to "just try".

I look forward for the opportunity to work with your child & getting to know your child so that we can have an educational experience that will give them confidence to take risks in their learning career each & every day!



Ms. Nicole