What I Believe

I recently attended CCIRA 2011 and was in sessions with both Regie Routman and Katie Wood Ray. In a word - awesome and inspiring (okay, that's two words). One thing that stuck with me was when Regie said we must align our practices and resources with our beliefs. I've spent some time this week trying to articulate my beliefs about my profession. I'm not sure why I separated beliefs about literacy from the others, but that's what made sense to me.

What I Believe

About teaching literacy and communication:

• Students learn best with authentic tasks that are purposeful and begin with choice.
• Lots of time is required for learning to be expert readers, writers, and communicators.
• Reading, writing, and communication skills are grounded in good literature, not in prescribed programs.
• Literacy and communication are essential to our collective futures and therefore, cross content areas.
• People around the world communicate through technology and this must be modeled and taught in my classroom.
• Literacy and communication are tools for peace.

About teaching and learning:

• Learning is the foundation for a fulfilling human existence.
• Each person has inside them, a creative and expressive spirit. Each person has the ability to learn.
• We learn from ourselves, we learn from others. Therefore, I value both self-reflection and collaboration.
• I believe I can be a model for joy, curiosity, excellence and honoring others. I can make a difference.
• When we study science and social studies, we learn about how the world works on all its different levels.
• I believe that learning is so complex, and so integrated that it no longer serves a purpose to compartmentalize subject areas.
• I believe that standardized tests are my political reality, but good teaching - not test prep - will lead to high scores.
• I believe assessment is daily, integrated, purposeful, and guides our learning and achievement. Learning is not measured by one test.
• I believe I am a facilitator of knowledge, not the owner.