MY TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
My philosophy of teaching is borne out my own struggles as a learning disabled student. I know all too well what is like to sit in a classroom and feel lost, unengaged and hopelessly inept. But I was blessed with one high school teacher who believed in me. He fostered in me a newfound confidence and belief in my own ability and worth. Through a long and sometimes arduous journey of learning, I found the path I was meant to walk upon. Along the way, I never lost an appreciation for the perseverance and spirit that so many students, with or without learning disabilities, demonstrate daily as they face their own learning challenges. My philosophy is that every student has a deep well of spirit and ability to draw upon, if they can overcome the doubts they harbor about themselves and their abilities. My goal is to help students find their academic, social and emotional strengths, their creative voice and in turn, their own life path which was meant for them. It sounds a bit hockey, I know, but it is the beacon of hope which has inspired me to teach off and on for so many years.
SPECIAL EDUCATION MISSION
The mission of the Special Education Department, in collaboration and consultation with the TEAM, is to help students understand their learning differences and develop skills and compensatory strategies in order to become independent learners. The purpose of the Special Education Department is to provide students with academic support needed to be successful at Lincoln-Sudbury.The Special Education Department weaves the Core Values of cooperative and caring relationships, respect for individual differences, and the maintenance of a purposeful and rigorous academic program into all aspects of its services.We want our students to gain an understanding of their own learning style so that they can learn to advocate for themselves. Special Education works closely with classroom teacher to develop ways to modify curriculum and assessment practices while maintaining high expectations.The goal is to present each student with challenging but attainable expectations and develop appropriate ways of assessing what students know and have learned.