Katarina’s Philosophy of Teaching
Language Learning is most effective and engaging when all four domains of language learning; Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening; are balanced within content, especially when students are reading, writing, speaking, and listening about themselves and making cultural connections!
All students deserve a well-rounded education with exposure to a variety of teaching styles, subjects, hands-on experiences, and collaboration with people of different backgrounds, abilities, and interests.
I incorporate as many Multiple Intelligences into lessons as possible. Implementing the workshop model into instruction to work with smaller, differentiated groups is a passion of mine. Instruction should include investigation, student-centered lessons, and several ways of assessing understanding in which students have choices and use creativity to demonstrate a variety of skills. For example, if students are involved in an entire Readers Theater process, they can adapt text into a script, enhance it with appropriate visuals, captions, and other text features to show their reading comprehension. Then, the practice of presenting a group Readers Theater can fine-tune pronunciation, phrasing, expression and volume; all while building teamwork, listening skills, and speaking confidence.
As global citizens, students should be involved with their communities. Ongoing Service-Learning projects, interactions with community partners, and subsequent reflection are proactive ways for students to contribute to a community’s well-being and become invested in its long-term growth. Such engagement can increase one’s intrinsic motivation to use a non-native language.
A well-rounded education incorporates as many 21st Century Skills for Success as possible, especially: Flexibility, Adaptability, Working Effectively in Diverse Teams, and Social and Cross-Cultural Skills, including Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness, which makes Classroom Management easy!
