How would you currently describe your overall approach to teaching in your classroom: traditional, process mastery, or constructivist? What works well in your approach? What needs improvement?

[Austin]

I would say that I try to have a mixture of all of it. I feel like if I don’t have a good enough relationship with my students to be able to tell when they aren’t understanding concepts in order to try a different approach than I’m not in tune enough with how the course is doing. On the hand, the blessing of working in a Christian school is being able to decipher the days when other topics outside of the classroom might need to be addressed and talked about. Sometimes the Holy Spirit guides us to have those conversations.

[Austin]

I would say it is a mix of all of them. Traditional in the sense that I need to teach students specific things to meet state standards and what they need to be able to go to a college. Mastery in the sense that I am trying to build into my assessments, the ability for them to show mastery at many different times throughout the year so in case they did not understand a concept earlier in the year, but they mastered it later, for them to be able to understand they know it well now and their grade reflect it as well. And with constructivist, I understand many students have many different ways of learning and interests, so I try to provide flexibility in creative assignments for them to decide how they want to demonstrate their understanding. Right now there is a lot of room for improvement as I learn about different types of learners and what helps them to learn best. In terms of what is working well, I think Black said it best, “perhaps most importantly, it’s invaluable to us to be able to pull out aspects of different orientations that are positive as far as positively relating to a biblical worldview”. Being open to all aspects of different orientations to teach from a biblical worldview.

[Austin]

I try to incorporate elements of all 3 but I need improvement on activities.

[Austin]

I think I have a healthy mix. Having children with different needs taught me an interesting need for flexibility and to focus on what students can accomplish within their abilities. Then perhaps push that just a bit, and sometimes a little more if done in a healthy way. I use many different methods of engagement within my classrooms to get the best out of my students.

[Austin]

I describe my approach as some traditional and some process mastery. I need to see what they know and gather information on their prior knowledge as well assess their new learning and skill set.