"ONE CHILD, ONE TEACHER, ONE BOOK, ONE PEN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD"
- malala yousafzai
my philosophy of teaching
"Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel."
- Socrates
the purpose
I believe the purpose of teaching is to create life-long learners who are successful in academics, talents, and communication. With equal opportunity and access to learning, teaching has the ability to produce students who will become positive influencers, leaders, and citizens within society. My teaching philosophy is aligned with the idea that a classroom is a vehicle for a dynamic learning experience through consistent classroom management, engaging lessons and projects, strong relationships, effective communication, and the use of data to guide differentiation and intervention.
The Philosophy
As an educator, I have distinct goals for what I would like to convey to my students. I have the Common Core and state standards specified for each grade level in mind however, I feel it is also essential to impart other life lessons to students. For instance, critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. These skills are integral to functioning as upstanding citizens within society. It is also significant to students' gathering of knowledge if they understand that learning is meant to take place in a school setting and every moment of their lives. My interest in education stems from having teachers in my own K-12 experience and college student teaching experiences, who have inspired me to continue providing warm, welcoming, and nurturing environments to children of diverse backgrounds. Teachers make a difference in their student's lives, and I would like to do something of value in mine while positively impacting someone else's life.
My role is to facilitate student learning. I work to differentiate material, manage the classroom, and encourage student interactions. My role is to provide students with the support and enrichment they need to be successful in a safe, warm, and welcoming environment. I am passionately dedicated to utilizing students' funds of knowledge to help them build connections between their lives and what they learn so that each student will feel empowered in reaching their fullest potential inside and outside the four walls of the classroom. Teachers have the opportunity and responsibility to change students' lives and futures every day to set them up for success and high academic achievement.
I understand that there are various learners and learning processes, as discussed by Howard Gardner. Therefore, it is my job to construct and adapt lessons that align with the state standards and the individual learning needs of my students. I will create lessons and activities that will engage all students and help them demonstrate their understanding and mastery of each subject. I will also encourage my students to use their funds of knowledge and reasoning skills outside of the classroom. I will act as a guide for my students as they develop the skills needed to investigate and problem-solve because they are in charge of their learning. I will also ensure the success of each of my students by creating a positive learning environment and community in our classroom. Furthermore, I will model my expectations to students in regards to respect and passion for learning. Thus, I will ensure that I consistently reevaluate and reflect on my teaching practices and continue to grow through professional development for the success of my students. My students and I will learn from one another, make mistakes together, and grow together.