Amanda Kedra5 Ws as a

Teaching Professional

Who am I?• Senior Undergraduate Student at the

University of Rhode Island

• Secondary Education & History

• Head Resident Advisor in an Upperclassman Residence Hall

• Aldrich Hall at U.R.I.

• Fun Fact: I grew up in 3 hometowns!

• Parsippany, New Jersey

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”

-Albert Einstein

Why do I want to be a teacher?• During my own years of formal

education, I have continuously admired my teachers

• I have largely been inspired by my Social Studies teachers in my decision to enter the field of Social Studies education and inspire others

• Teaching provides a continuous learning experience, and it is both challenging and rewarding – I think that’s what makes it so worthwhile!

My Strengths

• Positivity

• Patience

• Creativity

• Fairness

• Adaptability

• Appreciation of diversity

Behavioral ApproachOut with the bad, in with the good!

• On a daily basis I provide positive reinforcement to students by explicitly acknowledging their achievements through praise

• To maintain the novelty of concrete reinforcers I reward those students who have demonstrated desirable academic and/or behavioral achievement with individual prize items at the end of each quarter

Managerial ApproachExpect the best and nothing less!

• I accept the role of facilitator in my classroom, encouraging all students to participate and take ownership of the classroom, as it belongs to them as much as it belongs to me

• By implementing clear procedures, the structure and efficiency of our classroom teaches students the skills necessary to fulfill their civic duties

What is my philosophy of teaching?

Humanistic ApproachAll that glitters may be gold!

• The National Council for the Social Studies pledges to prepare students for college, career, and civic life

• These ideals are exactly what I plan to promote in my classroom

• By modeling independence, self-regulation, and reflection I consistently encourage all students to take ownership of their behavior

Authoritative ApproachNo excuses!

• By communicating, enforcing, and teaching my classroom rules to all students I assist them in making a connection between our classroom and the society in which we live

• I provide clear expectations for all students, which means that I do not accept excuses for inexcusable actions

• I also encourage students to appreciate the benefits of an orderly society for all

What is my philosophy of teaching?

What are the classroom rules?• Respect

• Treat all persons in the classroom with complete respect, including yourself (the student), classmates, teachers, substitutes, and any guests in our classroom

• Responsibility

• Be prepared for class – this includes bringing all needed materials to each class (notebook, writing instruments, covered textbook, and completed assignments)

• Accountability

• Remember that you are accountable for all of your actions (or inactions) and it is not appropriate to blame others for your own decisions and behavior

What is my PBIS?• My Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system is built upon

the same foundation as my classroom rules – both systems have been developed with the overarching themes of Respect, Responsibility, and Accountability

• Tier 1 targets 80-90% of students

• Preventative actions to promote academic success and appropriate behavior for all

• Tier 2 targets 5-10% of students

• Specialized secondary interventions to promote success for at-risk students

• Tier 3 targets 1-5% of students

• Intense, durable, and individualized interventions to fit individual student’s needs

Final Thoughts

To all of my students,I am always here to support you on your journey to success. Let’s have a great year together!

-Miss Kedra