The Foundation – Children as Capable

            I believe that students are the heart of our education system. Students are there to not only further their education, but to help teachers broaden theirs too. In my eyes, I view students as capable and equals within education.  Based off of John Dewey's notion, I believe that all education is unique and is subjunctive to the individual.  I accept his constructivist approach as true, which is within education students should be structured in a way to help to construct their own learning. In my classroom, students will experience the empowerment of their own knowledge. I believe in liberating education by drawing on students’ prior knowledge and experiences and building on top of it. Also, by taking into account of the students’ interests and abilities it will help me to promote motivation for learning (Dewey,1910).

            In addition, I believe the role of teachers is to be observers rather than instructors. As a teacher, I will be there to observer growth and to guide and challenge students through difficult concepts. I was inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to schooling, wherein teachers, students, and parents are all collaborators in the process of learning. I believe that there is an unmeasurable value to be placed on interrelationships.  I believe that schools are in essence their own community. Schools are run by teachers, students, administration, and parents. Parents play a key part in their children’s success. Whether they play an active role with their child’s schooling or more of a limited role can really influence how a child does in school.

Teacher & Teaching in Context

EDEE 200: 2nd Grade
Mrs. Tomi

I was placed at PEACHES in a 2nd grade classroom for my first practicum setting. Mrs. Tomi helped me to develop my classroom management. In her classroom, I was able to encompass the arts within the curriculum.  

Block 1: 4th Grade 
Ms. Peralta

I was placed at August Ahrens in a fourth grade classroom with Ms. Peralta. Ms. Peralta let me explore different classroom management strategies as well as the curriculum. During this block the majority of my lessons centered around Hawaiian history, as  it was the social studies methods block.  While at AAES, I was able to attend open houses, spelling bees, and two field trips. It was this experience that made me fall in love with 4th grade! 

Block 2: Kinder
Mrs. Onaga

Mrs. Onaga was my Kinder mentor teacher at Kapalama Elementary. During this block I got to have fun creating thematic units for the kinders. My primary focus was ELA for this block and it's from this experience that I learned more about the development of writing and reading.

Block 3: 5th Grade
Mrs. Lui

Mrs. Lui was my mentor for Block 3 at Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary. Out of all my mentors Mrs. Lui was by far the most organized and structured. All of her lessons were prepped at least a week in advance and were very student centered. Mrs. Lui gave me the freedom to create math and science lessons for both of her classes. I learned the importance of relationships and real world connections during this block.

Student Teaching: 6th Grade
Mrs. Lovell

Model and conduct demonstration lessons
Identify and access school and community resources
Develop classroom rules and routines with classroom management
Meet City-wide Instructional Expectations
Plan lessons
Look at student work
Use formal and informal assessment strategies
Analyze student work to differentiate instruction
Understand and use the curriculum and student standards
Develop short and long term goals
Prepare for supervisors’ observations
Communicate effectively with parents
Understand and comply with clerical responsibilities