"We, teachers, are not doing the children a favour by teaching them,
but children are doing us a favour by letting us."
- Anonymous
Kia ora!
Learning Objective:
- To judge whether Mrs Chavez is a fit for your school
Remember to:
- read about Mrs Chavez' story on how she got into teaching
-
check the resources Mrs Chavez has made for students' learning
-
compare your school vision and Mrs Chavez' teaching philosophy
-
reflect on why Mrs Chavez chose to present the quotes you read on
this page
"What we see changes what we know. What we know changes what we
see."
- Jean Piaget
"Who dares to teach must never cease to learn."
- John Cotton Dana
"Learning is not the product of teaching. Learning is the product of
the activity of learners."
- John Holt
Resources
Web Development
Programming
Others
Teaching Philosophy
I believe that teachers have the power to change how a student sees
the world. The world can be harsh, but it also has kindness. It can
be a place of wonder with so much to explore. It can be full of
opportunities for them to grow and contribute. Technology has opened
so many possibilities for people with disabilities. As a teacher, I
believe that given proper guidance and support, people with special
needs can grow into people with special strengths.
With my knowledge of computer science, passion for software
development, and experience working as a programmer, I have the
skills to teach what I know and develop the tools needed to improve
students’ learning. I have studied sign languages and braille to
equip myself with the necessary skills to communicate with disabled
students.
My goals are to make an inclusive learning environment where
students believe in their potential and abilities despite their
circumstances and to guide students' learning so they can use their
knowledge and skills to help those in need.
Since I was as young as eight years old, I've always loved teaching.
I often play with younger kids the "classroom game" where I pretend
to be a teacher and them my students. Sometimes, it was the reverse.
There's something magical about sharing your knowledge and skills
with others. Right then, I knew I wanted to be a teacher.
"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle."
- James Keller
Then I got into high school, and my perspective on teaching changed.
Teaching didn't look fun when my high school teacher screamed her
lungs out, telling us, "we're the worst batch ever"—seeing my
teachers behind piles of paperwork after school didn't look fun. It
didn't look fun when teachers went from friendly banter to
resentment towards fellow teachers. So when I finished high school,
I took a totally different path instead of pursuing my childhood
dream: take up a course I wasn't good at. Math. Specifically, the
science of computing.
"I am beginning to suspect all elaborate and special systems of
education. They seem to me to be built up on the supposition that
every child is a kind of idiot who must be taught to think."
- Anne Sullivan
During my last year at university, I met the Deaf community, and my
life made a U-turn. While working as a Deaf interpreter for college
students, I was reminded of what truly makes teaching remarkable. In
front of me were passionate and curious learners. They are capable
of anything except hearing. But not hearing made it difficult, and
their teachers didn't know how to teach them according to their
needs. As an interpreter, I was restricted in what I could do to
help. So I finally decided to become a teacher despite the
challenging moments that come with teaching. I don't need to make a
difference. I simply want young people to have a chance to discover
their potential regardless of their circumstances.
