Kris Knickerbocker
Philosophy of Education
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- Students need to see it, hear it, do it, and teach it to truly learn it. Multiple experiences result in deeper understanding.
- Personal responsibility and clear expectations foster an uncomplicated, individualized learning environment.
- Every student has the capacity to learn and an area of interest from which to build.
- Successful teachers educate not only their students but also themselves, continually updating their subject knowledge and teaching skills.
- Effective teachers balance deep subject knowledge with a genuine desire to help students explore those same concepts on a basic, theory-based level
Education_Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan December 2011
Masters in Educational Technology (In progress) Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan April 2004 Secondary Teaching Certification
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_Teaching Experience
_Biology and Chemistry Teacher at East Lansing High School 2006-Present
- Uses district goals and objectives to plan and implement a cohesive curriculum.
- Organizes learning activities to provide varied classroom activities that are congruent with educational goals and objectives.
- Applies sound principles of learning and motivation in the planning, delivery and assessment phases of instructional delivery.
- Displays a high degree of knowledge in the subject matter assigned and is continuously upgrading competence.
- Facilitates students’ motivation for learning by communicating enthusiasm for the subject matter and for learning.
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- Encourages growth in study skills, written, and oral communication in the activities planned for students.
- Evaluates students effectively, providing meaningful and timely feedback and using the evaluation data to monitor and adjust instruction.
- Exhibits student work and provides opportunities for student recognition.
- Serves as an effective team member, collaborating with team members to integrate activities and provide an effective leaning environment for students.
- Effectively manages the classroom, optimizing instructional time and maintaining discipline through proactive classroom management and an effective discipline system.
- Establishes effective relationships with students and models respect for and acceptance of all persons in the school setting.
- Establishes effective relationships with parents, community and other staff members.
- Provides for a safe, efficient, organized classroom environment.
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- Maintains professional ethics and responsibilities including participation in the total school program, participation in curriculum development and building committees and providing a positive role model for students.
- Communicates effectively, both verbally and in writing, with a wide variety of audiences.
- Uses technology as a tool within the classroom and as a management tool.
- Carries out the required management tasks of a professional staff member (i.e. grading, attendance, conferences, etc.)
- Uses community resources to enhance the learning experiences of students
Extracurricular Activities
Contributing Member of the Achievement Gap Task Force. Group goals:
Participant in Teaching Across Cultural Differences, a group dedicated to infusing social justice into educational curriculum and pedagogy.
- Recruiting and retaining personnel that are committed to ensuring educational equity for all students
- Providing professional learning opportunities for district personnel that foster an understanding of identity, race and culture as key ingredients for providing educational equity for our students
- Strengthening accountability measures and achieving curricular cohesion
- Developing and implementing academic and cultural programs that foster educational equity in the district
- Providing sustained community dialogue about race, culture and equity in education that informs improved learning opportunities for the district's most academically challenged students
Participant in Teaching Across Cultural Differences, a group dedicated to infusing social justice into educational curriculum and pedagogy.
_Faculty Advisor for Gay-Straight Alliance (ELHS), whose mission it
is to better the learning environment of all East Lansing High
School students by eliminating stereotypes and prejudice against
those who are of different sexual orientations through
non-threatening education.
Professional Development
Love and Logic Training
- Classroom management plan focused on building relationships between students and teachers through personal responsibility
- Certified through the American Heart Association
- Participated in an interdisciplinary setting to modify lesson plans, improve assessments, develop more effective teaching strategies and increase opportunities for students to succeed in an academic setting
_Awards and Honors
_Deans List
John M. Mason Scholarship for Science Education Janice Marston Endowed Scholarship Michigan Competitive Scholarship |
Memberships
_National Association of Biology Teachers
Michigan Science Teachers Association National Science Teachers Association |
Personal References
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