This letter began as a fictional letter as part of an assignment. It is now becoming an actual letter that I plan to share with my future class of Grade 5 students. I always try to connect with my incoming students to help prepare them (and me) for their transition to Grade 5. This letter is an opportunity to explain my teaching philosophy to my future students.
Dear Grade 4 Students,
I am really excited to be your homeroom teacher next year, and wanted to write to you so that we can begin connecting and learning about each other.
There will be some elements of Grade 5 that you are already familiar with, but also many things that may be new to you. I know that teachers can all be very different so I thought you may like to know some things about my teaching philosophy.
An important aspect of your learning in Grade 5 will be learning creatively. I have been teaching for more than two decades and what I have learnt during my experiences in the classroom is that students are more effective learners when they are allowed the freedom to learn creatively. It is important to mention that this does not mean it will be not challenging. I expect you to work hard, be eager to learn, and to be respectful of the learning process.
So what can you expect from learning in my classroom?
It may be easier to provide you with a list of what not to expect:
- Repetitive activities
- All students completing a task in the same way
- Every minute of the day scheduled
- Learning ‘trick’s to answer questions
- Completing the task in a set time limit
- Following my ideas
- Learning by yourself
- Working quietly
- Having a ‘seat’ and table
- A teacher desk/no student zone
- Using your iPad's when I tell you too
- Showing your thinking by writing answers.
- Being told how to complete a task
- One answer being the only correct answer
- Me (your teacher) knowing all of the answers
- Kutumia lugha moja (how can you work out what this means?)
I look forward to welcoming you to Grade 5 soon!
Yours creatively,
Yours creatively,
Ms. Amanda
What would you write to your future class?