Mrs. Larkins' Philosophy

       I believe that the most important part of teaching is earning the trust of your students.  Building relationships is a vital part of any classroom, and students need to feel safe, respected, and included in order to have a successful classroom environment.  In short, students don't care what you know, until they know that you care.

     I also believe that true understanding results from actual experiences.  Students need to work together to complete assigned tasks that really foster understanding of the concepts being presented, as opposed to basic memorization.  Students also need to see how those concepts relate to the real world.  Often, school is viewed as separate from actual life.  This should not be the case.  Students benefit from understanding how the information they are learning now, will be used throughout life.

     A classroom should be a warm, inviting place.  Students should look forward to coming to school and participating in activities that are meaningful to them.  School should be a place to share and gather ideas, meet new friends, and discover something new.

Leanne Larkins