Train up a child...

 If students become empowered by their own learning and development within the classroom, they will begin to build a safe and trusting learning community while they work together to achieve a common goal.

Working towards this goal requires that the teacher first empowers themself and then their students with the necessary tools to achieve in this new age of technology.   It  will be beneficial for students to receive a balance between technological and lectured presentations so that they are able to attack issues in education from various angles.

1. The Facilitator/Educational Leader

It is my belief that oftentimes teachers confuse the role of being an educator with that of being a dictator to their students. However, the role in the classroom that I demonstrate, is that of a facilitator. A facilitator works to assist students in creating their own learning and provides each of them with the personal assistance necessary that will allow them to eventually function effectively on their own.

2. "We are Family" A Safe and Trusting Learning Community

By building a community within the classroom, I am able to create a common and predictable experience that helps children feel connected to everyone in the room.  Everyone in the classroom community takes on a role to provide sufficient services to the group, however, everyone is not performing the same tasks  at the same time, but the group as a whole works together to achieve a common goal.

It is important that as I build my classroom community, that my students feel safe and accepted as they make positive connections with other students. I welcome them into "our family" daily, using class meetings to promote a sense of community, and teaching them how to become problem solvers and decision makers at an early age.

3."Access Granted" to Technological Literacy 

The educational standards for computer literacy do not match the needs of today's children.  Educators must remember that the union between technology and education must consist of more than teaching web browser usage, email maintenance and buddy lists.  Composing letters in a word processor, keyboarding skills, file maintenance, and the basic differences between MAC and PCs are the topics that build a secure foundation for technical literacy.

The regular use of technology in the classroom should cultivate the excitement about presented materials as well as a desire that will urge the student to continue the learning process outside of the classroom. Two of the greatest values that I have found as a teacher of technology are visualization and motivation. The use of technology programs allows a student to first create and then explore the practical applications of concepts that initially seem abstract but ultimately furthers their understanding.

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Gateways School
Teaching and training a child has never been more challenging than it is today.Today's "new" generation of children have a different set of needs, interests and values. Therefore, as educators, it is our responsibility to first understand the generation that we are teaching; and then put ourselves into a category alongside of the student that will foster and create opportunities educational, social and moral growth.

Gateways School is dedicated to teaching all students according to their learning styles and/or ability while challenging them to analyze, synthesize and evaluate the knowledge being gained in the academic environment.

Gateways School is designed to foster life long learners. We believe that life long learners are readers and become the leaders of tomorrow. We want our children to go beyond what is learned in a book. Therefore, classrooms need to be creative, stimulating, inviting learning environments that encourage children to learn to the best of their ability. We are also committed to developing self worth in all children and an appreciation for cultures. We encourage parental and staff involvement in all school activities.