May 2014

Abigail Strietmanns Teaching Philosophy

Teachers have the power to shape, change and celebrate minds. As a teacher, it is my goal to shape and
change minds through academic and social challenges. My classroom will provide a safe environment
where students are encouraged to share prior knowledge and develop unique personalities. This will serve
as a means of enhancing class projects and discussions, while promoting diversity in friendships. Through
real world and personal connections, science will become tangible for my students as they learn through
discovery. Minds will be shaped and changed in inquiry and application lessons, as science practices are
used to investigate the world.

Students will be encouraged and expected to be responsible and respectful inside and outside my
classroom. I will model and implement rules and routines that lead to students adopting these attributes as
their own. My goal of celebrating minds will be achieved as students apply science concepts in designing
their own experiments. Not only will I celebrate minds that are successful in the eyes of the science field,
but minds that challenge me. The skills, experiences and prior knowledge of my students will be embraced
as students learn the importance of learning from each other.

Every student will be given a chance to express and explain themselves while being held to consistent high
standards. Science will be used to leverage discussions on issues prevalent in many students lives, such as,
bullying, nutrition and the environment. To expand my classroom learning community, I will provide
students with opportunities to become involved in extracurricular activities, such as maintaining local
gardens, competing in science competitions, and designing and implementing scientific advances which
positively benefit the whole school and neighborhood communities. Both mind and lives will truly be
shaped, changed and celebrated as my students are inspired to develop their own methods of using science
to improve their lives and the lives of others.