Differentiation

 

My classroom is a garden.  My students: rare orchids, each needing individual attention and continual nurturing for proper growth.  To be successful in the orchid business, as in education, it is imperative that one realizes the vast diversity that can occur among individuals.  No two orchid species are exactly alike; therefore each species must be given individual care and attention to succeed.  Not all orchids require the same amount of water, nutrients, or sunlight to thrive.  It is therefore necessary to provide the proper resources required for each individual species, so that the entire garden might prosper. Likewise, differentiation between students is necessary for each individual to learn, and in turn, to succeed.  One of the fundamental concepts of my teaching philosophy is the creation of a strong, supportive laboratory environment in which all students are successful.  To ensure the success of every individual, it is essential that each student be given the resources needed to thrive.  It is important to take each student into consideration as I develop lessons and lab exercises to ensure that all students are actively engaged in the classroom, and that all students have an equal opportunity to learn. 

 

Meeting Student Needs

 

My classroom is a garden.  My students: rare orchids, each needing a helping hand during difficult times. During pest outbreaks, disease epidemics, and adverse weather conditions orchids need assistance to survive.  In the same way, students need extra guidance and support during challenging times.  Perhaps they are struggling with issues in their personal life or they simply cannot comprehend certain concepts being taught in lab.  Whatever the hardship, it is imperative that I provide individualized assistance and guidance to help students during such times, so that they might ultimately succeed.  Just as it is essential to identify the needs that each separate orchid species exhibits, it is also essential to recognize the individual needs each student possesses and to take them into consideration at all times.  As a result of identifying each person’s individual needs, we enhance the unique talents each student brings to the classroom, and together we can teach and learn from one another so that the entire garden flourishes.

 

 

Addressing Student Misconceptions

 

My classroom is a garden.  My students: rare orchids, exhibiting both independence in growth and form, and dependence upon resource presence and availability.  Students, like orchids, bring diverse characteristics into their environment, some of which are beneficial to the larger community, and others that could negatively impact the individual or even the community as a whole.  Identifying and addressing misconceptions students bring into the classroom is one of my main priorities as an educator.  Incorporating prior knowledge into lessons and asking students to share information about topics they are interested in allows me to identify the misconceptions they bring to the laboratory.  This strategy also enhances the educational experience for all students and involves everyone in the learning process.  One of my main objectives as an educator is to motivate everyone in the classroom to learn by instilling a sense of curiosity in the minds of my students.  When I teach by example, and exhibit my own excitement and curiosity in relation to the subject matter, my positive energy augments my students’ attitudes towards learning.

 

Establishing a Support System

 

My classroom is a garden.  My students: rare orchids, requiring support systems essential for proper growth and development.  Often orchids require additional assistance, beyond their own supportive structures, to continue growing on their path towards maturity.  Like orchids, students may struggle to succeed unless a support system is created to aid them on their educational journey.  Providing a support system for  students is important, and is another fundamental concept of my philosophy. Establishing an environment that emphasizes the importance of communication in learning is a vital component in my laboratory classroom.  By opening the lines of communication between teacher and student, and between student and student, a network of support and encouragement emerges.   When students feel comfortable with their instructors and their peers, effective classroom discussion acts to reinforce concepts that might have otherwise seemed abstract or confusing.

 

 

Active Learning

 

My classroom is a garden.  My students: rare orchids, continually challenging me to experiment with new teaching strategies and tools that might more effectively assist them so they can succeed.  An eclectic educator, like a gardener, must be creative and adventurous, always reading to learn about new techniques that will benefit their plants, or in this case, their students.  I constantly change and adapt lessons to better suit the needs of students in my classroom, and I am always looking for innovative, active learning strategies to employ that will help my students better understand the material we uncover.  I utilize activities that emphasize the main concepts my students should be learning, while at the same time I continually search for fresh, new ways to communicate these concepts in lab. This allows me to discover which strategies work well in the laboratory and which do not.  By developing lessons and labs that incorporate active learning, I have observed that my students’ abilities to conceptualize new material improves immensely. 

 

Laboratory Atmosphere

 

My classroom is a garden.  My students: rare orchids, displaying many colors and exhibiting a wide variety of characteristics that make them unique.  It is this individual uniqueness that becomes the beauty of the garden.  For a sole flower, however exceptional it may be, is much stronger, vibrant, and appreciated when grown near contrasting individuals. In the same manner, each student possesses their own extraordinary traits that make them different from one another.  When these individuals are brought together in one learning environment, their unique talents and skills merge, creating a dynamic atmosphere within the lab.  The ability to understand and internalize the feedback each individual is expressing is integral to maintaining an atmosphere of mutual respect in my classroom.  Through this respect for one another, we are able to learn and expand upon one another’s ideas, creating a richer, more significant educational experience for everyone.  Establishing a positive, encouraging atmosphere in the classroom encompasses the concept of classroom management, which can be implemented not only by the instructor, but by the entire class.  When all students are involved in classroom management, they realize the importance of their role as both a teacher and a learner in the classroom, and in the end, will take with them a more meaningful educational experience.