Mrs. Zahajko's 1st and 2nd grade SMMILE Program
Teaching Philosophy
Cheryl Zahajko
“Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to
play.
Every individual makes a difference.”
--Jane Goodall
I was drawn to the teaching profession because I enjoy working with
children. I view teaching as a constant challenge that is
seldom, if ever, boring. The realization that a teacher can
introduce children to new worlds of information and open up new
possibilities daily was motivation in itself for me to select
teaching as a profession.
What I try to do every day in my class is be a good listener, to
guide instruction rather than lecture, and be willing to use varied
methodologies to foster learning. I do set high standards in
my classroom and will not accept minimal effort from anyone
including myself. But at the same time I try to make
teaching an interesting and personally rewarding experience for my
students while at the same time trying to have fun with what we are
doing.
I am focused on teaching the whole child in a balanced model of
teaching. The classroom must be a risk-free environment that
fosters cognitive growth, as well as social and emotional growth.
It must be a child-centered classroom that promotes a positive
attitude among students. Such a classroom promotes natural learning
for all modalities; for visual, auditory, and kinesthetic
learners.
Special education provides me with a unique experience. Every child
has strengths and weaknesses and it is up to the teacher to
recognize them and use them to their advantage. Enthusiastic
teachers help the classroom come alive. With a positive atmosphere,
children can be encouraged to learn and to perform to their full
potential. In special education classrooms, it is often hard
to keep the interest of the students. Creative lesson plans and
interesting topics are important factors in keeping the interest of
a child. Teachers should also remember that students can learn from
every experience in life and it is important for the teacher to
help them get the most out of each experience.
I take great pride and pleasure in having the opportunity to touch
the lives of each student that enters my classroom!
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