Kassadi Walsworth

Vision Statement

Students do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care.

Therefore, it is my priority to build a trusting relationship with every student I interact with.

Learning involves nature as well as nurture (Jensen, 2005). I will get to know my students

needs, and do everything in my power to meet them every day. As a teacher, I aim to make my

classroom a place that encourages students to take risks, ask questions, and think outside of the

box. My students will KNOW that I believe in them and expect them to succeed in and out of the

classroom.

I believe that ALL students have the ability to learn. I will strive to meet all the teacher

proficiencies, including equality in excellence foe all learners (teacher proficiencies). This

includes responding appropriately to the diverse group of learners I will be involved with. My

students will be encouraged every day to use all their individual skills and talents when

completing tasks. I strive to be student centered at all times, focusing on the students and not the

content.

There are seven critical factors of learning, which I will include in my lessons. These

factors are engagement, repetition, input quantity, coherence, timing, error correction and

emotional states (Jensen, 2005). All these are important and should always be used. One of the

most important factor to me is coherence. It is vital that I tap into my students prior knowledge

and experiences. I will use their prior knowledge to build and expand what they know. Throwing

information at students they know nothing about, will only cause it to go in one ear and out the

other. To achieve this goal of using coherence in my lessons, I will teach using models and

straight forward directions because I understand that students brains are still developing (Jensen,

2005).
Kassadi Walsworth

In my classroom, students learning will be evaluated using authentic assessment. I will

do this by using formative and summative assessment along with rating scales, rubrics and

checklists. Traditional testing methods do not test many of a students skills and abilities (Jensen,

2005). I believe it is beneficial for students to reach a higher level of thinking, to show what they

are capable of.

Movement is an effective cognitive strategy to strengthen learning, improve memory and

retrieval, and enhance learner motivation and morale (Jensen, 2005). Therefore, my classroom

will be a fun and active environment. Movement will be a large aspect of our daily activity. This

will be done through interactive activities, dancing and cross lateral exercises. Brain breaks will

be implemented to get kids up and moving which will strengthen learning.

As an effective teacher, I vow to take responsibility for my mistakes and actions. I

understand that people are the problem and solution, not programs, and I will always be willing

to take responsibility for myself. I will model this, and expect it of my students as well. If they

make a mistake I will expect that they take responsibility for that mistake. I will implement this

by making my students feel comfortable with me. I will never make them feel mad or

embarrassed regardless of the situation (Educators code of ethics). My classroom will be a place

where misbehavior is prevented and revenge will not be a factor.

I will always strive to be the best teacher I can be, in and out of the classroom. My

students will always know where they stand with me, and that they are expected to succeed. We

will have an open and comforting classroom environment which allows students to ask questions

and take chances without feeling judged. Everyone will take responsibility for their own actions,

and choices which will transfer over to life choices as well.

Kassadi Walsworth

References:

Jensen, E. (2005). Teaching with the brain in mind. Alexandra, VA: ASCD

Learner centered schools for Texas: State adopted proficiencies for teachers. (n.d.)

Educators code of ethics. (n.d.)