Pedagogic Creed
I believe that as the world becomes more interconnected, and access to information is easier to obtain than ever before in our collective history, we can no longer compare educations and determine which better by simply asking, “Who knows more?” Rather, we should be evaluating the answer to the question “Who knows how to better obtain information and process it?” Of all the content areas that students are brought into contact with on a daily basis, the social studies contain the fewest barriers to knowledge acquisition.
I believe some of the smartest students (who I have found are often NOT labeled as 'smart' students) realize many of the flaws of the educational system, and refuse to comply. These are the ones who are silently and indignantly reminding us that we are not teaching anything of real value if all we are teaching is memorization.
I believe taking a critical perspective is highly important for social studies education. If the social studies is the examination of us, then we must be highly aware of what is being said about who, when, and why. If we fail to do this then we run the risk of the spread of prejudice, falsities, ignorance, and an unquestioning complacency with the way the world around us operates. It is when the social studies are taught in this manner, that we begin to instigate change within our students and the various levels of community around us.
I believe that teachers must instill a realization that history is created by people
I believe that if you want people to succeed at something you must give them the means to succeed. And after that you will find that nothing succeeds like success.
I believe that unit planning starts with looking at the State standards to see what is there, but also what is not there.
I believe that all teachers would agree that the world around them and the knowledge about that world is constantly changing, along with the ways that people interact with it. We as teachers must then make sure that we are malleable and changing, to reflect this world, and to best suit the needs of those we are seeking to help gain an understanding of this ever changing world.
I believe we provide students with directed agency so that they may readily engage in citizenship during the various stages of their lives. If we teach children to read at an early age so that they may the pleasure of reading through their whole lives, why do we not engage our students as citizens so that they, and their communities, may benefit from a lifetime of active involvement?
Students must be made aware that they are not simply outside observers leaving nose prints on the glass. Even leaving nose prints means that someone will have to come along and clean them up.
I believe that all teachers would agree that the world around them and the knowledge about that world is constantly changing, along with the ways that people interact with it. We as teachers must then make sure that we are malleable and changing, to reflect this world, and to best suit the needs of those we are seeking to help gain an understanding of this ever changing world.
I believe that as the world becomes more interconnected, and access to information is easier to obtain than ever before in our collective history, we can no longer compare educations and determine which better by simply asking, “Who knows more?” Rather, we should be evaluating the answer to the question “Who knows how to better obtain information and process it?” Of all the content areas that students are brought into contact with on a daily basis, the social studies contain the fewest barriers to knowledge acquisition.
I believe some of the smartest students (who I have found are often NOT labeled as 'smart' students) realize many of the flaws of the educational system, and refuse to comply. These are the ones who are silently and indignantly reminding us that we are not teaching anything of real value if all we are teaching is memorization.
I believe taking a critical perspective is highly important for social studies education. If the social studies is the examination of us, then we must be highly aware of what is being said about who, when, and why. If we fail to do this then we run the risk of the spread of prejudice, falsities, ignorance, and an unquestioning complacency with the way the world around us operates. It is when the social studies are taught in this manner, that we begin to instigate change within our students and the various levels of community around us.
I believe that teachers must instill a realization that history is created by people
I believe that if you want people to succeed at something you must give them the means to succeed. And after that you will find that nothing succeeds like success.
I believe that unit planning starts with looking at the State standards to see what is there, but also what is not there.
I believe that all teachers would agree that the world around them and the knowledge about that world is constantly changing, along with the ways that people interact with it. We as teachers must then make sure that we are malleable and changing, to reflect this world, and to best suit the needs of those we are seeking to help gain an understanding of this ever changing world.
I believe we provide students with directed agency so that they may readily engage in citizenship during the various stages of their lives. If we teach children to read at an early age so that they may the pleasure of reading through their whole lives, why do we not engage our students as citizens so that they, and their communities, may benefit from a lifetime of active involvement?
Students must be made aware that they are not simply outside observers leaving nose prints on the glass. Even leaving nose prints means that someone will have to come along and clean them up.
I believe that all teachers would agree that the world around them and the knowledge about that world is constantly changing, along with the ways that people interact with it. We as teachers must then make sure that we are malleable and changing, to reflect this world, and to best suit the needs of those we are seeking to help gain an understanding of this ever changing world.