About me
I first discovered my passion for nature as a young child, inspired by my mother to explore the beautiful Oregon Coast I was lucky to grow up on. You could find me getting lost in old growth forests, building tree forts and fairy houses, setting up a rope swing wherever I could, playing in the tide pools, and spending long hours on the beach. My exposure to nature at a young age really sparked a passion in me to care for it, to teach other people my same passions, and to dedicate my education to how I can accomplish those goals. I was luck enough to have the opportunity to be a part of the Environmental Leadership Program at the University of Oregon in 2022 where I learned skills to accomplish these goals.
My Teaching Philosophy
My foundation philosophy as an educator is that all students are unique and will require multifaceted learning techniques that work to keep all minds stimulated. My top priorities are making sure children feel safe and included in all activities, and that I am an approachable leader in the classroom. To account for my privilege, it is my goal to recognize my role alongside the students and to work to break down some disparities in education that discourage collaborative learning between teachers and students. I believe teaching the future generation to be more caring and empathetic with their local environments is so important and will promote future environmental stewardship. I strive to help all students gain confidence in the material and in themselves as people. In doing this, I make sure to engage with the quieter students, encourage specific behavior, and scaffold lesson plans very carefully so students feel clear and confident in what they are to do. Other methods I practice for building confidence are an emphasis on asking questions, teasing answers to encourage curiosity, and presenting materials and activities in an informal style rather than traditional lecturing and teaching at students. In this elementary setting, I always strive to bring curriculums and materials that are age-appropriate, but also challenge young minds and push them out of their comfort zones occasionally. An example of this is the poster-based learning approach we implemented in 2022. Initially, some students were apprehensive about this style of learning, but by the end of our time, they were very proud of the work they had done, and we used it as an assessment of our learning outcomes. I believe being right on the edge of your comfort zone is often where we do the best learning, so I strive to instill this in students. Above all, I hope to create mutually beneficial and meaningful relationships with students. The classroom should be a place of support, empathy, and compassion for one another, a space where we can all help and learn from each other.