"Show your students that you care about them and their success and watch them soar!"

                                                                                                    - Deborah Bowler

 This quote from Haim Ginott is the premise on which my teaching philosophy is based upon.  I believe that the foundation for a successful educational experience is a caring classroom environment.

            

           “I have come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element

            in the classroom….. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make

            a child’s life miserable or joyous.  I can be a tool of torture or an

            instrument of inspiration.  I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.  In

            all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or

            de-escalated, and a child humanized or de-humanized." - Haim Ginott

Ownership of education can only occur when I acknowledge that each of my students is a special and unique individual.  Even more importantly is that my students actually feel this way.  This will enable my students to feel valued and respected thus opening their hearts and minds to learning. When I am able to help my students take charge of their education, my students will feel in control, work cooperatively, and become self-regulating, and as a result they will become intrinsically motivated to learn.  As a teacher, I want my students to trust me and know that I genuinely care about them in all aspects of their lives.