Holocaust Remembrance Month

In our English class this month, we learned about the holocaust from the eyes of those who lived it. Students read the autobiography Night, by Elie Wiesel.  We then watched an in class video, Life is Beautiful, which focuses on the plight of Italian Jews during WWII. Students then created their own newsletter using Microsoft Publisher from the focal point of an underground resistance newsletter. Their final project was to create a podcast within their assigned groups. In their podcast they imagined themselves a news-broadcaster during the bombing of London, advising residents of the damage incurred, as well as different battles fought between the Allies and the Axis powers. 

 Our final activity for our Holocaust Remembrance month was a field trip to the Miami Holocaust Museum in Downtown Miami. Students were able to see first hand the horrors that those affected faced. News reels played with images of extermination camps and the liberation of Auschwitz. Students met with two survivors of the Holocaust and were able to ask questions of their experience. Everyone left with a solemn understanding of how cruel intolerance can be. The survivors themselves were lighthearted and enjoyed meeting with the students. Their philosophy on life was to celebrate every moment, as well as remember those who were not as fortunate as themselves. They reminded students that the Holocaust began because one man refused to accept the differences of others. This deeply resonated with my students. 

Educational Philosophy

My philosophy of education starts with me, the educator. I believe that teachers and educators are to be looked at as role models for students in the classroom as well as in the community. I believe that educators who have overcome obstacles in their lives set the best example for students; no matter how hard or low you fall, you can always pick yourself back up. I am not campaigning for convicted felons to teach our youth, I am however advocating for those who come from broken homes and self doubt to empower our youth by being the example. 

I believe that every student has the right to a quality education, no matter their background. Every student present in class has an innate desire to learn, and as an educator it is our duty to engage them. Students come from all different ethnic backgrounds and cultures. As educators, we should embrace these differences and learn from them. How boring our world would be if we all looked and acted alike. As a teacher, I will celebrate these beautiful differences that make us who we are, while sharing these ideas with my students. Every student is as unique as their learning style. They should be celebrated and intellectually nurtured, not forced to conform to the teaching style of a particular educator.

My teaching style will reflect my passion for difference. Each student's educational needs will be met with different forms of instruction. Students will have one on one instruction as well as group instruction. My kinesthetic learners will have opportunities to learn classroom material from a hands on approach, they will be instructed the correct way to complete assignments then completing the tasks themselves with supervision. My auditory learners will learn by in class lectures and audio books that will be provided for home use. My visual learners will learn best by our in class videos; by seeing literature acted out on screen, they will be able to further grasp plot themes. I will have an open door policy when it comes to students as well as parents. I will send home a monthly newsletter encouraging parents to stay active in their child's learning. Each parent will have my personal e-mail address as well as my cell phone number to create a support system tailored for each child's educational needs. I want my classroom to be known as a safe haven for each student. I want them to be able to walk through my door and know that they can momentarily escape whatever personal, social, or home issues each child may face. 

Classroom Layout

My classroom layout is based on the seven design principles. My students do not sit at desks, they sit at tables to allow group discussions without the hassle of having to move desks. This will also help my physically disabled students. For students that are in wheelchairs or depend on the use of crutches, transferring into or sitting in a cramped desk can be somewhat of a hassle; storage of their crutches and wheelchairs will be made easier when sitting at tables. They will not feel excluded from their peers by having special accommodations. 

Everything will be distinctively labeled in my classroom to ensure students can access materials, such as: textbooks, dictionaries, thesauruses, their in class journals, pencil grips, assigned reading books, as well as large print books.This design will also be perceptive with simple, easy to comprehend visuals for my ELL students. My classroom will also be flexible, requiring low physical effort. All desks and chairs will be on wheels to allow students to freely navigate obstacles.