About Howard Gipstein
Twenty-five years in California classrooms, building lessons that meet every learner exactly where they are — with confidence, creativity, and care.
The Story Behind Howard's Work
Experience
I have been teaching in California since 1998. I hold a multiple-subject credential and a mild-to-moderate special education credential, which has allowed me to work with a wide range of levels and abilities. I have taught in both the regular and alternative school systems, and as a special education teacher, I have worked extensively with students who have special learning and behavioral needs — particularly students on the autism spectrum.
Teaching Style
I try to create programs and curriculums that fit individual students' interests and abilities, rather than trying to fit students into a set program. I also try to instill a sense of confidence by taking the fear out of making mistakes, encouraging students to view errors as learning opportunities that are necessary for achieving mastery. My methods and materials center on games and activities that address visual, kinesthetic, auditory, and verbal modes of learning.
My Own Education History
My materials grew out of fourteen years of teaching students from kindergarten through high school, in regular and special education classes. During those years, I developed games and activities incorporating music, videos, visual arts, movement, play-acting, and other elements to appeal to multiple learning styles, abilities, and interests.
The results were amazing. Children who normally did not retain information, or were simply not engaged with learning, were now responding with enthusiasm and a lasting eagerness to learn. I believe that all children benefit greatly from creative practices that appeal to them individually, and that underscore a personal and caring relationship with those teaching them.