Dawn Straith

Two of my favorite educational visionaries are Carol Dweck and Jo Boaler.  Their work in the field of brain science and the growth mindset has transformed not only the way I see, deliver, and experience education but has also influenced the entire educational industry.  I believe that children learn best when they believe that they are capable of learning at high levels and about topics that may seem challenging to them at the time.  Confidence and a growth mindset are the necessary foundations to accessing education. I am also a big lover of Ron Ritchhart’s Making Thinking Visible routines, the Responsive Classroom, Learn Like a Pirate by Paul Solarz, and Culturally Responsive Teaching & the Brain by Zaretta Hammond.  Sir Ken Robinson should also be mentioned as someone that I most look up to for guidance in the 21st century classroom.

 

My teaching philosophy has evolved over many years of educating children with a variety of abilities, including those identified with dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADD/ADHD, ASD, speech impairments, ELs, learning disabilities, physical impairments, and those identified with gifts and talents.  As I reflect on my beliefs regarding education, I find that my mission as a teacher is to lead, mentor, coach, teach, and facilitate learning for all children while building upon their interests, background experiences, and knowledge in age-appropriate and engaging ways. I believe that every child has the right to be appropriately challenged at his or her individual level, deserves a quality and equitable education, and is best served when they are actively and rigorously engaged in the pursuit of knowledge.  Additionally, I believe that students learn best by doing through hands-on experiences, solving today’s problems, and learning via problem-, project-, and place-based learning.  

 

I implement many teaching strategies including whole-group discussion, small-group instruction and activities that encourage collaboration and independent work to meet the varying learning styles of any group of learners.  I work hard to help my students stretch their abilities using data to drive my instruction.  To thrive in the 21st century, students need a quality program that is highly differentiated along with an experienced leader to facilitate learning, spark enthusiasm, and encourage curiosity and risk-taking.  I believe that children need to be immersed in an environment that embraces error-making and supports higher-order thinking, creativity, critical thinking, solutions-oriented problem-solving, and curiosity.  All students need a curriculum and environment that varies the complexity, depth, breadth, and pace of instruction.  I help children develop the motivation, skills, and attitudes needed to become self-directed, independent, life-long learners who care about themselves and others.

 

I believe in teaching “the whole child” through the curriculum while mastering content skills and utilizing current best practices.  Educational needs are not always academic.  The social and emotional wellbeing of every child in my classroom is nurtured and looked after.  I support the growth of self-esteem, creativity, and life skills in a caring and nurturing environment.  Teaching strategies for organization and responsibility are a critical part of my day.  I recognize and embrace the wide range of interests and motivations every child comes to the classroom with and this diversity lays the foundation for the design and delivery of my lessons.  I get to know every child as an individual with distinctive learning needs and interests and create learning experiences that are personalized and tailored to those needs.

 

With proper support, children can enhance their own lives and be profoundly contributing members to their local as well as our global society.  My goal is to maximize their potential through an effective, inclusive, and equitable education that celebrates their diversity.

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“There is nothing more unequal than equal treatment of unequal people.”

-Thomas Jefferson.