6 Guiding Principles Johanna Bungum

A. The social curriculum is as important as

the academic curriculum.
- Teaching students to work together
and communicate will assist them in
being life-long problem solvers and
communicators.
- Some key points about his principle
are:
• Communication skills
• Social development
• Inclusion
• Dialogue
- You can incorporate social
encounters in to curriculum easily by:
having class helpers, star of the
week, turn and talk, number talks,
recess and share time.
6 Guiding Principles Johanna Bungum

B. How children learn is as important as

what they learn: Process and content go
hand in hand.
- Each child learns differently, and all
ways of learning should be
encouraged. Some students need
hands-on learning, while some need
visuals or auditory lessons.
- When I teach, I will provide many
different ways to learn. I want
students to feel comfortable and
successful in their learning
environment.
- Different ways students learn:
• Manipulatives,
visual/written/oral, flexible
seating, small group, large
group, and IEP/504 plans.
6 Guiding Principles Johanna Bungum

C. The greatest cognitive growth occurs

through social interaction.
- I believe that when students interact
with each other, they are improving
their learning. Social encounters help
students work together,
communicate, build relationships and
help aide their confidence level.
- Examples of social curriculum:
• Group work, morning meeting,
parent/teacher conferences,
partner work, outside play,
classroom jobs, share time and
book discussions.
6 Guiding Principles Johanna Bungum

D. To be successful academically and socially,

children need a set of social skills:
cooperation, assertion, responsibility,
empathy, and self-control.
- Taking time to teach the social skills is
important in school because it will
allow them to grow and develop
faster in school and outside of school.
- Empathy is crucial to teach to
students. It shows them how to care
for others and understand their
feelings and thoughts and take them
in to consideration.
- Come examples of the social skills
are:
• Small group work
• Lit. circles
• Older grades read to younger
grades
• Problem solving with peers.
• Teacher modeling examples of
all skills.
6 Guiding Principles Johanna Bungum

E. Knowing the students we teach-

individually, culturally, and
developmentally-is as important as
knowing the content we teach.
- Building relationships is crucial
throughout the year. Especially in the
first six weeks. Getting to know the
students will help them feel welcome
and comfortable in the classroom,
with peers and with the teacher.
- When a teacher gets to know the
student, they get a better
understanding of how the students
works, what they need help on or
what they are successful at.
- Teachers should get to know each
student and where they come from.
Whether that be a different culture,
race or even a different state.
- Examples:
• Conferring with students
• Asking students questions
• Becoming culturally aware.
6 Guiding Principles Johanna Bungum

F. Knowing the families of the children we

teach and working with them as partners
is essential to children’s education
- By getting to know the families, the
teacher is strengthening their
relationship with the student and
with the parents.
- Knowing the families also aides in the
communication aspect of the child’s
academic growth.
- Students may need IEP of 504 plans
in the classroom and it is important
to include the families in decision
making.
- Having the families full support in a
teacher will set the student up for
even more success.
- Examples of knowing the families:
• Parent communication form
• Conferences
• Planner notes
• Communication
(emails/calls/DOJO/Seesaw)
6 Guiding Principles Johanna Bungum