"Much have I learned from my teachers, more from my colleagues, but most from my students." ~Talmud: Ta'anith, 7b
Current Courses
Below is a list of dance courses I am currently teaching, with links to the course pages. *Introduction to Modern Dance- Salt Lake Community College
*Beginning Dance and Movement- Westminster College
*Beginning-Intermediate Ballet - Westminster College
Teaching and Learning Strategies and Philosophy (AFA Portfolio Papers)
Below is a link to a document explaining some of the active learning strategies I use in my classes.
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Portfolio Paper 2- Active Learning Strategies Implemented - AFA.pdf Size : 265.899 Kb Type : pdf |
Teaching Philosophy
I believe students are important individuals who hold the power to shape their own lives and our world. As their teacher, it is my job to facilitate and honor their academic, personal, and physical growth. I do this by ensuring they have a safe and respectful learning environment where questions and exploration are encouraged, diversity and individuality is appreciated, and the educational process of sharing and developing knowledge is intrinsically valued. I strive to help each student simultaneously develop passion for the topics they study, invaluable life skills to serve them beyond the classroom, and strong analytical, critical, and creative thinking skills to advance their academic and personal success.
It is of utmost importance that every student feels his or her learning styles and academic aptitudes are appreciated. I employ a variety of teaching methods, lessons, and assessments in an effort to recognize my students’ diverse learning styles and unique talents. The classroom environment should be student-centered, yet teacher-directed. I have found combining classical authoritative approaches and assessments (such as lectures, demonstrations, and written assessments) with more contemporary facilitative and constructivist approaches (such as group learning, experimentation, reflections, portfolios, performance, and self-assessments) allows me to address students’ varied learning preferences while offering them choices and encouraging independence. As a result, students are more willing to participate and respect one another’s academic diversity.
Also essential for optimal learning is curriculum that is both rigorous and relevant. Students thrive when they meet realistic goals and overcome reasonable challenges; their confidence and self-esteem improve when they realize their own potential for success. I integrate academic content into lessons as students are working and exploring, rather than teaching it separately, so they understand the relevance and importance of the content and learn while doing. When students are interested in what they are learning, motivated to contribute, and proud of their accomplishments, they are engaged in the learning experience and have positive academic outcomes.
