Arizona College PrepHigh School

My Educational Philosophy

Getting to personally know each of my students is at the cornerstone of my teaching philosophy. I have a willingness to listen and engage with them on topics that are important to their lives. I consider myself a facilitator and rarely lecture; as it was once said to me, “look who is doing the work – that is who is learning.” Whether in small group workshops, peer conversations, or large discussions, I want my students to be active in their learning. My goal is to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills while positively influencing confidence and self-esteem. I foster an encouraging environment and mutual respect between my students, and I strive to maintain an environment that is conducive to learning and encourages interaction. My intent is to incorporate current events into my lessons in an effort to expose students to what is happening in the world, how the events relate to our content, and help them build a collection of resources that will aid in their analyses. I believe that writing is a process and, timed writings aside, rarely a “one and done.” Students must practice its craft, and I attempt to help them develop a natural, confident relationship to language – in reading and writing. I firmly admit that writing can be difficult and requires frequent practice and reflection to create fluid ideas, incorporate valid and appropriate evidence, and expressive commentary. I aim to bring an open mind, positivity, and high expectations to the classroom every day.