Corrie Chen 

From a professional musician, to a manger in a public accounting firm, to a Masters student in Teachers College, I never stop learning from my colleagues at work, my peers in school, and my students and teaching fellows in the year-long placement. They have helped me narrow my focus to one day become a great teacher.

 

Leaving my small town in China to explore America at the age of 17 opened up a whole new world for me. Being surrounded by people with diverse cultures has given me opportunities to view things from different and multiple perspectives. It has helped me make better-informed and more holistic decisions. Respecting and valuing Students' Identity is my top priority as a teacher. When students walk into my classroom, I want them to feel welcome and safe, regardless to the differences of their cultural backgrounds and linguistic experiences. It is essential to know every student in more dimensions than just the academic. 

 

I believe every child is talented in some ways. Being a Reflective Practitioner, I take  full responsibility to critically consider the impact that I have on student learning. I strive to meet the needs of all students in regards to their interests, learning abilities, and personal goals. There is no "Perfect" way to teach ALL students because of their individualities. In a differentiated classroom, I consistently monitor my students' learning progress, and try my best to utilize a variety of teaching and learning strategies designed to help each learner advance as far as he or she can. 

 

Students Autonomy, Choice, Agency and Ownership around Learning

 

Technology is ubiquitous, touching almost every part of our lives, our communities, our homes. Yet most schools lag far behind when it comes to Integrating Technology into Classroom learning. Many are just beginning to explore the true potential tech offers for teaching and learning. Properly used, technology will help students acquire the skills they need to survive in a complex, highly technological knowledge-based economy.