My Biography

It was great to be able to see so many of you attend our parent teacher orientation. To those who were unable to attend, I am available to chat with by appointment with Ms. Lee. For those who were unable to attend, below is my biography:

Greetings! I will be the grade two teacher for the 2014-2015 school year. I have my undergraduate degree in journalism from Campbell University, my elementary teaching certification through the state of New Jersey, my master’s in international education through The College of New Jersey and a Cambridge young learners certification. I have lived in Taiwan for several years, and take great pleasure in educating young students from Taiwan and abroad.

           

            I consider myself both a teacher and a student. I love to capture students' attention through challenging and engaging lessons, but I am always eager to absorb new information as well.

            My pedagogical philosophy is based on the premise that the teacher is a facilitator of learning, rather than a dispenser of knowledge. In order for students to be fully engaged in the day's lessons, it is imperative that they are actively involved with what they are learning.  I believe that children do not all learn the same way or at the same rate, and that it is my role as an educator to differentiate my instruction so that each child is able to reach their full potential in a safe, caring environment. I strive to be vigilant to maintain an ongoing awareness of what the students know, what they are interested in learning, how they best learn, and how to use this information to best reach each learner.

            I believe that education’s primary purpose is not for students to acquire a myriad of facts, but rather to help students gain critical thinking skills so that they are capable of connecting new ideas with what they already understand about the world. Students do not easily retain newfound knowledge simply by being able to repeat facts. Deep understanding is created when students are able to apply new ideas to real-world problems so that they are able to create solutions. Learning new ideas and application must be viewed as irrevocably bound in order to provide students with an optimal learning experience.

            As a fellow learner, I endeavor to find connections between myself and my students, what they are learning and what is happening outside of the classroom. It is my goal that my students view me as a well-informed collaborator rather than an omniscient instructor. In order to encourage this viewpoint, respect for self and others is viewed as one of the greatest virtues in my classroom. It is my goal for my students to understand that learning can come from anyone and anywhere, and that everyone they encounter should be given equal respect and autonomy for their ideas and opinions.

           

            I am excited to work with the parents and guardians of my students, so that together we are able to best meet the needs of your child. I welcome any and all feedback that you have about what is happening in the grade two classroom.