Teaching Philosophy

“What the hand does, the mind remembers.”

~ Maria Montessori

HANDS-ON LEARNING

I have a passion for incorporating hands-on learning into academics. I believe these strategies are essential for engagement and help support the framework for truly meeting each student where they are. At the core of my teaching philosophy is recognition and respect for the various ways each student learns. I am excited to get the opportunity to create instruction that is adaptive, supportive, and individualized by placing research-based, multi-sensory learning at the very heart of every lesson I plan.

In addition to being a teacher, I’m also a lifelong learner and professional artist. I believe this unique skill set can be leveraged to build lessons that foster exploration and curiosity in my students. I strive to construct a curriculum that builds confidence and reduces frustration by identifying individual strengths and going the extra mile to provide students with what they need to be successful.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

My most valued tier one support is preparing and managing the learning environment. This begins with the commonsense application of determining what students have access to at any given time. My classroom is organized and uncluttered (both physically and visually) and calming to the senses as often as possible.

As an added support, I prepare standards-based learning materials in advance and organize them by month. Each month is differentiated as needed and added to regularly. This way, there is always a reasonable amount of materials to choose from, and the content remains fresh.

Staff relationships are also an important part of my classroom management strategy. I am confident and comfortable managing staff and strive to make sure each member of my team feels supported in an environment that is both professional and friendly. Creating and maintaining good working relationships benefits everyone in the classroom.

These are just some of the strategies I employ to make sure everyone in my classroom is set up for success. I look forward to adding to my toolbox in the future.

~ Lisa Barbero