Izzy Lapidus, Educator
Izzy Lapidus is an inclusive, child-centered, and justice-oriented elementary school educator based in Brooklyn. She is committed to co-creating learning environments that inspire curiosity and critical thinking, encourage agency and independence, and celebrate every child's strengths. She views education as a pathway toward transformative social change and is deeply passionate about pursuing a career as an educator. Izzy is an MSEd candidate at Bank Street Graduate School of Education in Childhood Special and General Education (Dual Certification, Grades 1–6).
Explore Izzy's teaching portfolio:
Teaching Journey
I didn't always want to be a teacher. My path has been shaped by many dreams and pursuits that led me here. From growing up wanting to become an astrophysicist, to advocating for computer science education, to creating my own interdisciplinary undergraduate major in Computing, Design, and Pedagogy at Barnard College, to working as a staff member at my childhood sleepaway camp for four summers, to teaching at a local elementary school in Denmark, to pursuing an MSEd in Special and General Education, to now teaching 2nd graders in Brooklyn. Each experience has contributed to the educator I am today and the unique set of skills I bring to the classroom.
Take a deep dive into my journey:
Teaching Philosophy
It is an honor and a privilege to teach.
I recognize my responsibility as an educator and I approach this role with the utmost seriousness.
Teachers have the power to influence children's lives and shape who they become. The language we use impacts how children think, feel, and move through the world. With this in mind, I think deeply about the words I use when I communicate with children, and strive to always honor the strengths of all of my students.
As a teacher, specifically with a passion for special education, I pride myself on being as inclusive as possible in my classroom, making efforts to ensure that every child has a sense of belonging. When I think about a lesson, I apply a Universal Design for Learning lens and ask myself: who will be my focus child? My focus children? For which children will I design this lesson so that the needs of all my students will be met? I design with those in mind who will benefit most from individualized instruction and support to meet our lesson’s objectives.
Curiosity and critical thinking sit at the core of my teaching ethos. My first dream, long before I landed on becoming a teacher, was to become an astrophysicist. I strive to cultivate learning environments where children are excited and encouraged to think creatively and boldly. I want children to wonder deeply about the world around them and beyond. I love hearing a child ask "why?"
I believe that every child has a universe of wisdom within them. Our job is to meet children where they are and help their light shine. Inspired by my time studying pedagogical values abroad in Denmark, I believe in creating classrooms that honor children's agency and independence, instilling trust in them from a young age. I view children as full human beings and treat them with respect.
I have had teachers who have affirmed me and teachers who have put me down. Having a teacher see you and believe in you goes such a long way. In my schooling experience, I have had teachers who smiled at me, recognizing when I was onto something the rest of the class hadn't quite put together yet, and teachers who snatched books out of my hands telling me I wasn't smart enough to read them. I have had teachers who encouraged me to craft my own educational path inspired by my passion and tenacity and teachers who told me to drop out of advanced placement classes because my grades weren't up to their standards. I strive to always be the teacher who uplifts her students and celebrates them for all that they bring to the classroom
Teaching Repertoire
I teach 2-3 subjects every day in my 2nd grade classroom and have experience planning and teaching every core academic area. My teaching repertoire includes reading units on studying characters closely, writing units on opinion restaurant reviews, Fundations word study units, and extensive math units including geometry, fractions, time, and money. I have designed and taught my own computing curriculum both at a local primary school outside of Copenhagen during my study abroad program in college and in New York City public schools through my work with Barnard's Office of Community Engagement & Inclusion. My culminating senior thesis project for my self-created major in Computing, Design, and Pedagogy was the co-creation of a new course in Barnard's Education Program titled Computer Science in the City, which emphasized the role of justice and caring in curriculum. I attended specialized performing arts middle and high schools for theater and use this background to inform my teaching across all disciplines.
Explore my teaching approach and highlights across each subject:
Reading
writing
math
word study
social studies
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science
responsive
classroom
Computing
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Technology
theater
Teaching Materials
A snapshot of materials I've designed to create engaging lessons and differentiate curriculum to meet the needs of my students.
Teaching Videos
Watch me in action! *coming soon*
