Stephanie Check

What Do I Teach? 

What skills do students need in order to be better citizens of the world? 

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As an educator, I teach grade-level content, depending on what grade level I am teaching. But, I also teach social skills to all my students. I teach them to be kind by saying nice words, asking to play with others, helping others when they are down, and putting smiles on others' faces with simple gestures such as a hug or a drawing. I teach the importance of respect, and how to be respectful to all people. This could be saying "Hello" to another teacher in the hallway, or saying "Excuse me" when trying to get back in line. This also includes not talking back and taking rainbow breaths before speaking.

 

I teach coping strategies for students who are having trouble dealing with certain situations in the classroom or their own emotions. I teach how students can become role models in the classroom and make the right choices in order to be a better person. I teach the importance of making mistakes and not giving up. I teach that if a mistake happens, it does not mean they are done learning. I help students understand that mistakes help them grow and learn. I teach my students that giving up will not help them move forward; that they have to figure out ways to keep going. It can be asking for help from the teacher or a classmate, or finding the resources or tools to help achieve a task. I teach way more than grade level content. Because I also teach these skills, at the end of every year, I feel fully confident that I have grown a class full of leaders and learners who can achieve anything they put their minds to. 

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How Do I Teach? 

How do your learning techniques fit to the students' needs? 

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How students learn is always varied and not all students learn the same. That is why I teach by supporting students as best as I can. I teach both small-group and whole group lessons and even have opportunities in which students can work in partnerships. Students have opportunities in which they can show me their understanding of the content I have taught and are able to work independently. Not only do I vary the configurations of learning, but also vary the types of lessons that are taught. Some days it may be a Jeopardy! game or other days it may be a race to find the correct sight word on the board. Some days it may be partners playing a math game during centers. Other days it may be a group of four students predicting and drawing out the butterfly life cycle during science.

 

Lastly, I vary the format of the content presented to the students. Some of the lessons I present to my students are enhanced with a video from Discovery Education, YouTube, or BrainPop Jr. Other times, I even search certain topics using KidRex to provide students with kid-friendly content. Songs even help students understand the concepts I teach them. Instruction for the students is varied and depends on their preferences and interests. It is a way to get the students engaged and excited to learn various content in a unique way.

 

Because I know students learn differently, I also use flexible seating in my classroom. Students have the choice to choose a flexible seat to help them focus and get their work done. Seating includes wiggle stools, stools, rocking chairs, lap desks, and more. These choices help them in learning to their specific needs. As an educator who struggled during her school experiences, I understand having supports change the outlook on learning experiences. That is why I also make sure that if students are struggling, I scaffold and support them with accommodations or modifications. If students are not growing because they know the content, I add extensions to challenge their thinking and think "outside the box." This supports all learners and helps them achieve the end goal of learning to succeed.

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Why Do I Teach? 

What makes you so unique or different from other educators? 

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I teach for many reasons. One of my number one priorities as an educator is to foster relationships with my students. I have a unique skill in which I know all my students' names - first and last - on the first day of school. That is not the only thing I learn about them. I learn about their likes, dislikes, what they are scared of, what they prefer to do at home, what their routines are, and even sometimes what goes on at home. They give me a slice of their life and I am intrigued. In turn, I give them a slice of my life and tell them things about me: My likes, dislikes, things I am scared of, what I do with my pup, and things like that. I create a relationship with them and nurture it. Forming relationships can be the best thing for many of these students I encounter, especially coming from a Title I school. Some of my students in my teaching experience have experienced quite a lot of adversity. Having someone to go to and share something exciting that happened to them brightens their day a bit more. It brightens my day too that I am someone they have trusted and are willing to go to if something is on their mind, whether good or bad. I also value the relationships of my families. I make sure I inform my families of important events going on at school and in the classroom, ask for volunteers to bring in materials for certain activities, and keep them up to date with their children's academics and behavior. Whether it is informal conversations at parent pick-up, or formal conversations at parent-teacher conferences, I truly care about the families of the children I teach. If issues arise, I make sure I communicate and get to that family right away, whether it is a phone call, an email, or ClassDojo. I put in 100% effort to make sure that their child's experience, along with their own, is exceptional and that I leave a lasting, meaningful impact on all of their lives.