I believe effective teaching practice takes shape:

!In and outside of classroom life. This means having

an awareness of the way you conduct yourself outside
of the classroom. It also means playing an active role
in events that are important to students outside of
classroom life like school sports.

!By accounting for
the needs of the
individual learner.
This means
providing a variety
of learning tasks that
best lend themselves
to the strengths of
each student and
challenging myself as a teacher to become more open
in order to really listen to the feelings and views of my
students.

!By availing yourself to students learning needs.
This means having time available for students to come
in before class to receive extra tutoring and support.

!In keeping parents informed of all the good things
their child is doing at school. This means monthly
emails or phone calls home to parents informing them
of what is happening in school as it pertains to their
child.

!By allowing
students some level
of choice as to the
direction in their
learning, and
avoiding a one size
fits all mentality.
This means providing
an opportunity for students to have a say in how they
would like to be assessed when given a variety of
options.

!In demonstrating enthusiasm towards science
learning. This means using clear and effective
communication in conveying information and making
interesting links to students everyday life as well as
thematic and current events.









































































I believe the purpose of education is to:

!Instill a strong work ethic.
This means commenting
positively on every students
effort to be punctual, present
and attentive.

!Prepare for future
possibilities and situations not yet apparent or
foreseeable. This means structuring my teaching material
in such a way so as not to form the views of my students
but give it back so that they may form their own.

!Prepare learners for
the political, social,
cultural and economic
environment of a
society and provide an
awareness of the
characteristics of other
cultures. This means following closely the mandated
program of studies and delving into areas of which
students find most intrigue. If we can learn from the
approach of another culture, this view will be taken up as
well.

!Encourage, promote, and foster critical thinking. This
means structuring classroom learning around weighing
the costs and benefits of certain approaches to problems,
and allowing students to debate the potential outcomes
amongst themselves.

!Enlighten its subjects of technology that avails itself to
ones own learning. This means drawing on various
forms of technology in everyday classroom work.

!Instill a deep
commitment to lifelong
learning. This means
buying into this pursuit
myself through active
professional development
and challenging my
students to learn something
new each day.



MY
PEDAGOGICAL
CREED




I believe students learn best:

!When their interests are taken into account. This
means providing a variety of learning tasks that best
lend themselves to the strengths of each student over
the course of the year, and gaining a feeling of
where they are through ongoing conversations,
questions and assessment techniques.

!When devoted to goals of consistent and
dedicated practice. This means laying down firm
expectations on day one.

!When they are
aware of their own
individual learning
styles. This means
making mention to
personality types,
learning styles and
accomplishments in
other areas outside
of science and the classroom.

!When making connections to real world
applications. This means challenging students to
come up with their own ideas about scientific
applications in their lives.

!When free of impeding
distractions. This means
keeping distractions under
control and conveying
good study habits to my
students.















I believe great planning in science:

!Adheres to the
principle of the 8
Ps (Proper Prior
Planning and
Preparation Prevents
Piss Poor
Performance). This entails that every unit is
planned taking into account the unique needs of
each class and worked differently where necessary.

!Examines safety
factors and considers
all steps to mitigate
hazards students may
encounter. This
means emergency
preparedness and
appropriate safety
training (WHMIS) of students before partaking in
laboratory activities.

!Takes into account realistic time constraints of
activities. This means using an organisational
approach of establishing big ideas and setting up
activities around them
that lend themselves to
learning while also
considering
constraints, of material
and asset availabilities.


















I believe assessment best practice:

!Guides future learning. This means using
assessment as a teaching tool to guide
appropriate review and to backtrack if need be.

!Puts value in making mistakes and learning
from them. This means that students learn
even during a
test, and
mistakes are a
natural process
of the learning
cycle and
integral to the
big picture of
overall success.

!Is multimodal depending on the learners
needs. This means making appropriate
arrangements for ELLs and students with
disabilities and using a variety of assessment
strategies in determining the overall academic
measure of a student.

!Does not make comparisons between
students. This means using different
standardised rubrics for different types of
assignments.

!Challenges students, but does not seek to
trick them. This means stating beforehand
what will be on an exam or the requirements of
an assignment. It means not creating bogus
questions that do not directly test material or
the thought processes learned during a unit or
course.













I believe excellent classroom management:

!Follows principles of natural law. This means
clearly articulating this idea on day one stating the
difference between consequences and
punishments. I do
not believe in
punishment but there
will be consequences
set in place if
reasonable
expectations are
not deliberately met.

!Finds its roots in
treating students like adults. This means talking
and interacting with students in a grown up,
respectful and professional manner.

!Draws on teamwork by encouraging
collaboration. This means pairing students who
work well with each other and fostering an attitude
of fair play and respect in the classroom by
modelling these
behaviours in my
own conduct with
students and
colleagues alike.

!Emerges through a
well-organised and planned classroom in terms of
routines and physical setup. This means keeping a
clean and organised classroom. I will model this
for my students by keeping my own space clean
and organised and comment on students
initiatives to do the same.

!Encourages good behaviour. This means
thanking students, in front of their peers, of acts of
generosity and kindness that go above and beyond
what is expected.