Pamela Hairston's Philosophy of Education
Pamela Hairston’s philosophy of education encompasses principles that incorporate educating the whole student. Students should know classic literature, be capable of solving problems, and be emotionally well rounded. Well-rounded means being able to cooperate with others, and it means working effectively within a team or group. They should be able to calculate without a calculator, and they should know at least one language other than their own native tongue. They should know history, particularly U.S. History. Students should know about developing integrity, and they should always strive to improve their character and their reputation. The words please and thank you should be a viable part of their repertoire.
After being introduced to Doug Lemov’s forty-nine techniques, studying strategies that keep students engaged, and learning the dynamics of classroom cultures, Ms. Hairston now considers how some of Lemov’s techniques can help to overcome obstacles that many teachers including herself are confronted with daily.
Recently in this region, the SOL tests, (Standards of Learning) have changed to reflect more rigorous, challenging, and critical-thinking questioning. Getting students to think critically requires teachers to first get students to understand abstract versus concrete. Critical-thinking skills rank near the top of the list as obstacles that teachers are challenged with. Doug Lemov’s technique, Simple to Complex, is a series of questions that progress in intensity. This technique when practiced with students, adds to skills that enhance teaching methods.
Doug Lemov contends that teachers should be Reading teachers in order to help students get the most out of their education. Knowing how to teach context clues, decoding, mapping, and affix meanings, all constitute skills from which students can benefit. Even at the high school level, some struggle with reading, and comprehending what they read. Amazingly enough, there are students who read fluently, pronounce the words beautifully, but somehow do not understand what they read. When Pamela Hairston encounters students who fall in this category, she can rely immediately upon what she has learned to assist students in becoming better readers.
Obstacles for teachers are challenging at times, but sometimes students endure situations at home that keep them from doing their best at school. Students need encouragement, and they need to know that their teachers will support them, and assist them in becoming their best.
Pamela Hairston’s philosophy of education encompasses principles that incorporate educating the whole student. Students should know classic literature, be capable of solving problems, and be emotionally well rounded. Well-rounded means being able to cooperate with others, and it means working effectively within a team or group. They should be able to calculate without a calculator, and they should know at least one language other than their own native tongue. They should know history, particularly U.S. History. Students should know about developing integrity, and they should always strive to improve their character and their reputation. The words please and thank you should be a viable part of their repertoire.
After being introduced to Doug Lemov’s forty-nine techniques, studying strategies that keep students engaged, and learning the dynamics of classroom cultures, Ms. Hairston now considers how some of Lemov’s techniques can help to overcome obstacles that many teachers including herself are confronted with daily.
Recently in this region, the SOL tests, (Standards of Learning) have changed to reflect more rigorous, challenging, and critical-thinking questioning. Getting students to think critically requires teachers to first get students to understand abstract versus concrete. Critical-thinking skills rank near the top of the list as obstacles that teachers are challenged with. Doug Lemov’s technique, Simple to Complex, is a series of questions that progress in intensity. This technique when practiced with students, adds to skills that enhance teaching methods.
Doug Lemov contends that teachers should be Reading teachers in order to help students get the most out of their education. Knowing how to teach context clues, decoding, mapping, and affix meanings, all constitute skills from which students can benefit. Even at the high school level, some struggle with reading, and comprehending what they read. Amazingly enough, there are students who read fluently, pronounce the words beautifully, but somehow do not understand what they read. When Pamela Hairston encounters students who fall in this category, she can rely immediately upon what she has learned to assist students in becoming better readers.
Obstacles for teachers are challenging at times, but sometimes students endure situations at home that keep them from doing their best at school. Students need encouragement, and they need to know that their teachers will support them, and assist them in becoming their best.