Never underestimate the influence of a teacher who loves what they do.
Welcome to the professional home of Ms. Ztaoui, a family friendly educator in the Philadelphia School District. Discover a vibrant learning environment shaped by a visionary teaching philosophy, where every student is empowered to thrive.
Ztaoui's Educational Journey
I am currently in the Philadelphia Teacher Residency Program at Drexel University. I have been teaching for over 30 years. It is my "calling". I eventually want to earn my Ph.D in Education. I completed my undergraduate degree at Temple University in a double major of English/Education. I pledged SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY because it was founded by 7 Black women schoolteachers.
I have always loved school, but I had to study for unnatural amounts of time just to retain the information. I have learning disabilities that no one can see and I have still made it this far and can speak 8 languages. Education has the power to change and save lives. I have witnessed this first-hand. I love teaching history because this content can be directly translated to apply to people's lives in real time. What an honor it is to be able to teach children how to think, create their own beliefs and identity, how to participate in creating a world they want to live in. Most importantly how to live their morals, values and faith, how to gain and maintain power over the quality of their lives. I teach my students that history is made every day and if they do not help make this history positive, there are a lot of negative people who do not take a day off in their quest to make the world negative.
My Teaching Philosophy
"Every blade of grass has its own angel whispering over it, grow, grow, grow."-Hasidic proverb
Everything is taught. Everything problem has a solution. Every brick wall has a weak spot. Every obstacle has a purpose. Every riddle has a theme. In my classes we use history to learn life skills. How to win. How to lose. How to keep going when you feel all alone. How to be helpless. How to beat the "odds". How to study for a subject when you understand nothing. How to succeed in a class you find boring. How to make peace with a teacher you do not like at all. How to move and thrive in a system that wants you invisible and silent. When to celebrate your victories in front of your enemies. History is the most powerful thing you will ever study. This is my claim and I prove my case every semester.
My Teaching Strategy
My lesson plans or delivery of lessons centers on creating an inclusive, stimulating, and supportive learning environment. I always make 3 versions of my lesson to modify for neurodivergence and EL comprehension. I believe in fostering intrinsic motivation and equipping students with the tools they need to become lifelong learners. I teach all students to chunk and restate wording on prompts for more fluent responses. I do not pace around the room. I find it causes student anxiety. I do perch in each section of the room to monitor integrity and make myself accessible to all learners in equal time. I check for understanding 3 times with a script and purpose during the class. I take notes on my clip board to remind myself to address common mistakes or misunderstanding before the class ends. I reserve the right to assign and reassign seats every class, all year according to distractions.
My Favorite Human Development Theorists:
1) Carol Gilligan: ethics of care
2) Eleanor Maccoby: gender disparities
3) Maria Montessori: Interacting/ self-correcting environment
4) Karen Horney: cultural/social roles and interpersonal coping patterns
5) Jean Baker Miller: empathetic relationships core of psychological health
6) Martha Nussbaum: Capabilities approach
7) Dr. Mamie Phipps Clark: colorism "doll test"
Student & classroom gallery
Step into my classrooms and see learning in action! This gallery showcases vibrant student projects, engaging activities, and the positive atmosphere we cultivate together.
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click on image below to enter Class Gallery Walk
The 4 Domains of Student Learning
Understanding the framework of formal teacher education is crucial. This section details the FOUR DOMAINS OF LEARNING (SKILLS), that guide effective teaching practices and professional development.
Cognitive: Focuses on the brain. it involves mental skills, processing information, problem solving and acquiring new knowledge.
Social and Emotional: Focuses on the heart. it encompasses a child's ability to regulate emotions, interact with peers, develop empathy, and build self-esteem.
Physical: Focuses on the body. It includes developing fine motor skills (like holding a pencil or handwriting) and gross motor skills (like standing and sitting still).
Language and Literacy: focuses on communication. This covers listening, speaking, reading, writing. This allows children to express themselves and understand others.
Professional Development
I studied as a foreign exchange student in Sapporo, Japan, learning Japanese as a trade Language.
I studied World Religion and Topography in Marrakech, Morocco.
I studied Women in Education and Human development in Brussels, Belgium.
I was a "Freedom Rider" student Delegate for Elizabethtown College.
I was a student scribe t the International Women's World Conference in Philadelphia, PA sponsored by the Bahai's of Philadelphia.
I became a Bar Mitzvah at Kol Tzedek Synagogue in Cedar Park area of Philadelphia.
I am a literacy teacher for the elderly through SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY.
Curriculum design & implementation
In this content area of history/ social studies many schools have their own pacing guides and material websites instead of physical textbooks. I did a 6-month internship with a mentor teacher at a Philadelphia Charter School who had created his own pacing guide because the school had none. In other schools, I implemented a Pacing guide of the curriculum designed by the CEO. At this point in my career, I am able to design and create a pacing guide based on the curriculum a school wants to use or suggest a curriculum that has worked for me in the past.
What I do NOT do is deliver an authoritarian style lesson plan that forces students to memorize facts to complete a standardized test. This does not support learning, critical thinking or long-term retention of knowledge. This is not a best practice and has been deliberately used against BIPOC children, in my experience.
The Danielson Framework provides a comprehensive blueprint for effective teaching practice. This framework is organized into 4 domains and twenty=two components. The framework offers a detailed and research-based definition of what constitutes high=quality teaching. it is a universal and pliable guide for educators serving a diverse population.
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Parent Engagement
A strong partnership between home and school is vital for student success. My gardener approach to open communication and collaboration with families is undeniable. Before school starts, I put all parent numbers into my personal and professional phone. I summarize all IEP's and do a seating chart for each class pairing excellent students with struggling students. I translate all form letter for the year into all the non-English languages in the classroom. My group emails go out every 2-4 weeks to inform parents about student progress or student regression. For students with behavioral challenges, I send a letter or text every Friday, so support can be adjusted over the weekend. I provide gifts and food on parent night because most parents are coming from work or missing dinner prep time. I encourage parent pop ups and flag shipped parent attendance in office hours tutoring. I invite parents to a game night or appreciation bash event once a year. We have roller skated, bowled, painted, made candles, etc. My garden club students have provided Mother's Day plants and Father's Day mugs. I respect and adore my parents who link arms with me and hold their kids accountable. I keep in touch with all my parents from every school via a Happy Holidays card. Parents hug me on the street when I'm running errands, and it never gets old.
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Technology in the classroom
I enjoy a smart board in my room. That's it. End of story. The TECHNOLOGY in my room is a brain, a voice, a pen and paper. No cellphones, no smart watches, no laptops, no chrome books, no swearing, no hate speak. I'm completely subversive to trends of helplessness and violence, in habits and tools. I grew up with campaigns like, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste," and "Knowledge is power." These are the facts. I want my students to be smarter than their phones, and "Tik Tok clapback's". I want my students to be landowners, homeowners, University Builders and sports team moguls. I want my students to be inventors, activists, first responders and Prime Ministers. Most of all I want them to be certain that they are brilliant and always surround themselves with brilliance. I want them to be perpetual greatness. As a Jewish person, I was raised with stories about how most of the people killed in the Holocaust who were NOT Jewish, were teachers who went into the gas chambers willingly. I have big shoes to fill, and I will do just that.
See tech in action
Assessment strategies
Effective assessment goes beyond grading; it informs instruction and promotes student growth. I employ diverse assessment methods to accurately measure understanding and progress. I give pop quizzes, exams, projects, essays, geography drills. I give formative assessments to gage progress in a section/topic and then I give a summative exam to document mastery of the entire unit. For essay work I give rubrics of how the essay will be scored so students will consider a self-list of details to complete their response
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Classroom management
A well-managed classroom is a productive classroom. My approach focuses on building a respectful community, setting clear expectations, and fostering student responsibility.
I have a list of 3-5 agreements that my students and I enforce within our class community. I first explain our class is different from all other classes. It is like an actual government. I am the head of the government because I earned it. Officers or other peer leaders will be appointed as needed. Our class follows the policies, procedures and dress code of the school, even if NO OTHER teacher or leader honors said rule. My class must create and maintain an ideal, safe ground for thinkers. Disruption will be dealt with swiftly and automatically escalated to include parent, guardian, case worker, school psychologist, or counselor. My class is NOT the hang out classroom. I am unapologetically authoritative.
1) All students must remain seated, with valuables under desk and nothing in the isles. Safety first.
2) No one talks while the teacher is talking. All speakers will be respected. (points off grade for violations).
3) Trust and respect me, so that I can trust and respect you. (teachers and students are NOT on the same level).
4) No one leaves the room without a pass nor touches anything in the room, including the door without permission. (teachers are legally responsible for student whereabouts during their period).
5) The teacher reserves the right to assign and reassign seats AT WILL. Students have the right to follow directions and learn.
My vibe: Unstoppable Educator
This is my professional home, designed to connect with parents, principals, and educational companies seeking a visionary and innovative educator. My teaching is a calling and a sacred duty. Staying in the field as an educator and not becoming admin is a VERY deliberate choice. Teaching is bigger than "a passion" and not 'just a job.' The education industry is dying for a reason. Teaching can be very dangerous, can attempt to make you invisible or obsolete mean, is mostly thankless, and can escalate to ugly for sport. "Passion" will not make you stay as a teacher. The "job" salary The vibrant energy I bring to every classroom is not performative. I'm living my dream. I have always wanted to be a teacher. Always. All my heroes are teachers of some kind.
Her commitment to professional growth and student success is inspiring. Ms. Ztaoui consistently goes above and beyond to ensure every child thrives.
Parent, Tamica B.
I have never worked with a teacher like. Ms. Z. She is formidable. She is a righteous soldier in the fight to give ALL children the opportunity to be greatness.
School Principal, Wheatonia J.
Thank you. Ms. Ztaoui. You ALWAYS do your job, no matter what.
Educational colleague, Lindsey K.
Connect with Ms. Ztaoui
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Availability for consultations
Please contact me to schedule a meeting or discussion. I am available for appointments during school hours and by arrangement outside of these times.
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