Teacher and Students

Teacher and Student Relationships

There’s often a perception that when it comes to education, the teacher is in charge and dictates the classroom. While this is partially true, professor Frederick Erickson describes the student-to-teacher relationship as “co-producing with students the very behavior that [we often take] as evidence of an individual characteristic of the student.” This means that each day and in every moment, the teacher and students are working together, a philosophy we use here at ISA. Learn more about the teacher and student relationship in our blog post below. 

The International School of Arizona offers small class sizes and two immersion tracks: French and Spanish. Our faculty and staff work with our students to create a multicultural bilingual environment through play, structured language learning, and the study of math, science, social studies, music, and art. Contact us to learn why ISA may be a good fit for you. 

Interdependence in the Classroom

In order to truly understand the teacher and student relationship, we must take a look at the term “interdependence” and how it affects both students and teachers every day in the classroom. According to Merriam-Webster, interdependence is defined as the state of being dependent upon one another. Therefore the educational success and environment of a classroom depend on both the students and the teacher. 

What This Looks Like 

Interdependence takes action in a classroom when both the students and the teacher are working together to create the ecosystem necessary to learn and grow. Students often contribute a variety of cognitive abilities, early childhood experiences, and cultures whereas teachers make tens of thousands of decisions each day that affect their students. This reality brings light to how crucial a teacher’s health and well-being is in order to guide and take part in an effective classroom. 

The International School of Arizona’s faculty and staff work tirelessly and collaboratively with the students to ensure they create an inclusive environment that promotes learning and growth. 

Teacher Spotlight: Pam Pointer

Here at the International School of Arizona, we are proud to put a spotlight on our teachers. This month, we’d like to introduce you to Pam Pointer. She is joining us from Memphis, Tennessee and brings with her a passion for teaching with a focus on global citizenship, international-mindedness, and a culturally responsive curriculum. Learn more about Pam below.

Pamela Pointer (Pam) comes to us from Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis,  Tennessee. She has over 22 years of teaching experience, 13 as an international educator and basketball coach. She has a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of Memphis and a Master’s in Education degree from Belhaven College. She is currently licensed to teach in Arizona and Tennessee. 

Pam’s goal is to educate with global citizenship, international-mindedness, and a culturally responsive curriculum. She aims to demonstrate the ability to lead, motivate, and get the best out of her students physically, socially, and emotionally. She understands the importance of recruiting and retaining students through a meaningful and worthwhile experience.

At the International School of Arizona, we pride ourselves on having a multicultural staff and teaching a multicultural and bilingual curriculum. Contact us to learn more about the benefits of both.

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