Melissa Lazarides

Welcome to my website!

This website will help give you an insite into my philosophy on teaching and a better idea of my teaching style. Because I am currently living in Texas, I have provided my portfolio on line to make long distance interviewing a little simpler. I have included photos and video of lessons and am extremely proud to share my students' work. Each student has grown in incredible ways and have produced beautiful work.


Please feel free to explore my site. I am registered with Missouri's online system which can provide you with more information about me.


If you would like to schedule an interview, please contact me. I have moved up to St. Louis and would love to visit your school.

My Teaching Philosophy

This year has changed my philosophy on teaching tremendously. As a student teacher, my view was limited because the students I taught belonged, in a sense, to another teacher. This year, I have experienced life as a teacher. I have 18 students, each of whom I treasure in a way I never thought possible. I take pride in their growth, knowing that I have influenced them both academically and emotionally.

On the surface, my teaching philosophy involves integration of subjects and creating hands-on learning experiences for my students. I believe every child can and will learn and we must find a way to reach each student. A good teacher must adapt to his or her students' learning styles in order to reach the final learning goal. I, as a teacher, must make the learning relate to real life in order for it to become useful and genuine.

Deeper down, however, lies the core, and somehow, the larger part of my philosophy.

I have learned that each day, I can be the difference in a child's day. Each day, I can help a child feel pride in him or herself. Each day, I can help bring about change in a student's life. This, to me, is the most significant element in my teaching philosophy. Classrooms are perfect settings to teach social interactions and life lessons. I do believe a teacher should use classroom time to teach these skills. Morning meetings and classroom problems solving, for example, help involve students and create a safe, trusting learning environment. I believe that the classroom environment must be safe in order for true learning to take place.

My teaching philosophy is:

A teacher must teach the whole child if he or she expects to have any impact on the child's future. The role of a teacher is to impact and help create a childs future.

Please get in touch with any questions or comments on my site.