Impressions of Teaching: The Coalescing of My Educational Beliefs

Zone of Proximal Development: The phase at which a child can master a task if given appropriate help and support

Differentiated instruction: Flexible approach to teaching that matches content, process, and product based on student differences in readiness, interests, and learning needs. Takes into account prior knowledge, and challenges so that instruction matches not only the subject being taught but also student needs.

Student teacher relationships are the foundation on which the educational process rests

Relationship building is particularly important with the demographic I currently teach, Hispanic students.

Prior to this course, I got a taste of constructivist thinking from reading Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed. The beliefs espoused in that text, particularly the power of dialogue as a means for learning, were highly influential in my choice to enter the teaching profession.

Excellent teaching for students of color that includes academic success, the development and maintenance of cultural competence, and the development of a critical consciousness to challenge the status quo

This concept holds special relevance for me due to he school I currently work at, Academia Cesar Chavez.

Student's must develop creativity in order to act as agents of change

Creativity must be viewed as a skill that can be developed, not an innate trait.