My Teaching Philosophy

My students learned a lot in my classroom, but they also had a lot of fun. Part of my philosophy of education in the classroom is that students need to enjoy the topics they are studying. Every year I would watch as the ninth graders entered my classroom for the first time and groaned as they saw the giant map on my wall. They were dreading all the map tests and studying that is a part of geography. As we studied though, I tried to bring out new things about the countries that the students didn't know. We talked about pirates sailing the Caribbean. (Some didn't know that actually happened.) We also talked about current events and how geography can impact them. My goal was to make geography fun. I had to test them over maps, countries, and capitals, but I knew they wouldn't remember that information for the rest of their lives. What I hoped they would remember is that geography is full of interesting information and they would be interested in picking up a map or learning about a country in the future. At the end of the year I loved coming in my classroom and seeing the students gathered around the map checking out all the places they wanted to visit and discussing which country was most interesting. For me that is what school and learning is all about. If I made the kids take one hundred tests and they did well on them, but at the end of the year hated the subject they were being tested over, I would feel as though I had failed.

I carried this philosophy with me as a taught government, English, and preschool. The parents of my preschoolers often said their children were so excited to start school because "Miss Edy" says that school is fun. When we got out our workbooks every day there weren't groans but excited chatter. They loved doing stations and learning the things that they would need to succeed in school as well as life. Parents of my English students often remarked that their children enjoyed classes they never thought possible. Their children were reading novels that they never thought a ninth grader would enjoy like the Woman in White or Pride and Prejudice.

Hopefully as a tutor I can help your student gain a love for the subject and help them understand it in such a way that they don't just have the information to pass a test, although that is important, they can gain an appreciation for the subject and be excited to learn in the classroom.

Teaching High School

Here are some pictures of my classroom and students.

When we studied Cyrano de Bergerac my students worked in groups and rewrote Act V. I then chose the best to act out their mini-play in class.

This group got very into their theatrical performance. They did a good job of using humor, drama, and language to create a memorable final act.

Here are my English and Geography students. They were a super fun class who really got into our class activities.
This is my Government class my last year teaching. In this class we discussed the United States government, how it relates to young people, and why they should participate in it.