Bill Schmidt

Teaching philosophy

Important Skills I Want to teach my students

I’d like to help my students to develop their curiosity, creativity, and independence as learners. The more they own their learning, the deeper it will be ingrained in them.

Teaching methods that reach these goals

We often work collaboratively. We read together and work together to find evidence for ideas within a story, or debate different perceptions of characters or plot. When we write, we often present our work to the class or ask for feedback from a peer.

My favorite projects

At Doherty, we have a new school garden, the EcoGarden (Eco: Educating Children Outdoors). We’ve been working the space into lesson plans in every subject, but it is especially valuable to our second grade science topics of habitats and plants. We take part in the life cycle of plants from seed to harvest to compost.

What I like best about teaching at Seven Hills

The students, of course! Their drive to learn and create makes each day exciting. It is very rewarding to be able to play a role in their development as the students learn about themselves and the world around them.