Penelope Tornes
Online Teaching Portfolio
Teaching Philosophy
When a class is led by a dedicated, passionate and empathetic teacher it becomes a community. I believe in the power of the classroom. The classroom offers a precious and fragile opportunity that can shape the outcome of a students’ day, leaving a lasting educational and emotional impression. My classroom embodies and prioritizes the values of respect, effort, communication, and honesty.
Positive Learning Environment
A positive learning environment is integral to the daily operation of a classroom. The learning environment of the classroom determines the effectiveness of the teacher’s instruction, and the ability for students to grow as learners. Developing a positive classroom culture, by setting clear classroom expectations and applying differentiation strategies leads to more classes where quality learning occurs, and increases the positive experiences students have in the classroom.
Sample Lesson Plans
TPE's for CA
TPE 1: Engaging and Supporting All Students in Learning
Promote students' critical and creative thinking and analysis through activities that provide
opportunities for inquiry, problem solving, responding to and framing meaningful questions,
and reflection.
TPE 2: Creating and Maintaining Effective Environments for Student Learning
Elements
Beginning teachers:
1. Promote students' social-emotional growth, development, and individual responsibility
using positive interventions and supports, restorative justice, and conflict resolution
practices to foster a caring community where each student is treated fairly and respectfully
by adults and peers.
TPE 3: Understanding and Organizing Subject Matter for Student Learning
Elements
Use knowledge about students and learning goals to organize the curriculum to facilitate student understanding of subject matter, and make accommodations and/or modifications
as needed to promote student access to the curriculum.
TPE 4: Planning Instruction and Designing Learning Experiences for All Students
Promote student success by providing opportunities for students to understand and
advocate for strategies that meet their individual learning needs and assist students with
specific learning needs to successfully participate in transition plans (e.g., IEP, IFSP, ITP, and
504 plans.)
TPE 5: Assessing Student Learning
Apply knowledge of the purposes, characteristics, and appropriate uses of different types of
assessments (e.g., diagnostic, informal, formal, progress-monitoring, formative, summative,
and performance) to design and administer classroom assessments, including use of scoring
rubrics.