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July 30, 2010 in Uncategorized | No comments

MRS. HARTSHORN’S TEACHING PHILOSOPHIES AND GOALS 

I believe that all students should derive long-term benefits from the time they spend in the classroom. I feel every student has the ability to learn and the right to receive a first class education. I am a strong proponent of public schools and school choice; I feel both are the backbone of education in America. The classroom should be a sacred place of safety, study and success. 

 I am an opponent of static-fact teaching. I feel the best teachers do not teach inert facts, but teach students how to ask questions and then give them the tools to answer these questions. I am a firm believer that children learn what they do, much more quickly and more concretely, than what they are told. Thus, hands-on learning is a must in my classroom. Differentiation is what gives all children at different learning levels the opportunity to succeed in the same classroom. While all students will arrive at the same knowledge level from project to project, the means at which they arrive there may and should vary from student to student.

I am very clear about what I expect from my students, ranging from behavioral to academic performance. I set very precise behavioral guidelines, with well-established consequences for both positive and negative behaviors. I expect all students to work their hardest and I hold them to a very high standard; their best.
My goals, as a classroom teacher, are not simply to teach facts and ask for memorization skills – though I admit, there will inevitably be some of that involved. My goals as a classroom teacher are to teach with passion and excitement; to teach experientially; to teach with actions; to teach with prominent standards; and to teach with compassion.
I hold myself to an exceedingly high level of excellence and determination. I am wholly dedicated to teaching students how to be well rounded and scholarly. I am committed to teaching students the 21st century skills that are necessary in the fields of science and technology. I am determined to teach students the skills that will help qualify them for the biological and technological industries that are on the rise in Massachusetts and around the country.

 

A little bit about me, on a personal note….  I absolutely love teaching middle school!  I wouldn’t trade my job (or the grade level I teach) for any other profession!  Middle School is the best age to teach – no day is ever like the day before and I am constantly learning new things! :)   I am the mom of an amazing (and challenging) three year old boy.  I have a great, and luckily supportive, husband of 6 years!

I am a huge sports fan!  Bruins, Red Sox, Patriots, BC Football and Hockey, US Ski Team, USA Softball and Soccer, and much more!  I was an indoor track sprinter and high jumper in high school, along with being a varsity softball player for four year.  I was also a member of the nationally award winning David Prouty Marching Band (color guard – threw flag and rifle).  In college I played soccer and softball and I currently coach middle school softball.  Unfortunately since my son was born I have not had time in my schedule to start playing soccer again, but before that time I was playing in a co-ed soccer league – I’ll be back to playing soon! :)

I began my college career at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts as a Journalism major, spent a year at UMaine Farmington, and finally graduated from Worcester State College in 2005.  I have a degree in History and a teaching license in History (grades 1-12) and General Science (grades 5-8).  Though I was formally educated in the subject of History, Science is my true passion and truly where my aptitude rests.

Please feel free to drop me an e-mail or even stop by my classroom some afternoon with any questions or concerns!  My door is always open.