Mrs. Fountain's Class
I strongly believe that all of my students, regardless of how they have done in school in the past, have the potential to be successful. Many students get stuck in the, "I can't..." mentality, but that does not cut it in my classroom.
I don't expect everyone to understand everything perfectly from the very beginning. I do my best to encourage my students every day, in every way, and remind them that anything is possible if they will try.
Even when you think you can't...try.
Much of my class is built on students sharing their opinion in class discussions or in their writing. For this to happen, students must have an environment where they feel safe to do so.
I do my best to create a positive classroom environment for everyone who enters. I do not tolerate students calling one another names or putting one another down.
There is enough ugly in the world...be nice.
Be brave. Be courageous.
In my class, I ask students to do a very scary thing: to put their thinking, their writing, their opinions out there for other people to see and critique. I know that this is a scary task, and I participate right along with my students in each class.
It takes courage to do something that makes you scared or nervous. However, you are pushed, challenged, and rewarded when you are brave enough to put yourself out there.
And 99% of the time you will realize that you aren't alone...