Freedom to Teach

It is the freedom to not rewatch to a test.

This Freedom means that I can do these things without the yokes of Standardized testing and VAM scores which have no relevance to the real world for which I am preparing my students.

By knowing my students and how they learn and what material needs to be mastered, I can design lessons, discussions, and activities that yield the best results. Freedom to teach is not a free-for-all where the teacher does "whatever she wants," but it is a healthier learning culture that trusts a teacher's expertise and experience by removing restrictive and redundant oversight that often hinders creativity and learning.

It means having the resources and administrative support necessary to fulfill that calling.

Freedom to teach is freedom to focus on teaching students rather than fighting the unending disruptions. To me, freedom to teach is about meeting needs and not teaching to a test.

It means being given the opportunity to teach and reteach as needed and allowing the time necessary to make sure every student receives a high quality education. It also means that we are open to constructed criticism and suggestions that will build up my confidence to continue in my effort in being successful with every objective being taught. It means I can be open and honest with my students to create relationships that will strengthen the communication in the classroom along with developing a safe community that students trust and feel comfortable every day they are in our classroom. Lastly, it means going beyond the boundaries of reading, writing, and arithmetic, it is teaching coping and life skills that will be planted in each student in hopes that it will continue to be watered and grow so that when it is needed, that tool will be readily available for each student to use. I. LOVE. MY. JOB!

In so doing, I will utilize the 21st Century teaching strategies so as to equip students with the skills needed to function effectively in our evolving society.