Teaching Philosophy Statement

I am student who has had the experience of knowing how to succeed in school. I had grown up my whole life, and gone through college struggling through coursework, only to come out successful on the other end. My key understanding of how difficult schooling can be is what makes me such a great educator. I have the wisdom of an educated teacher, with the drive and struggle from a failing student. With my professional attitude, the concepts that I teach with, and ability to create strong relationships with students, parents and the community all make me a fantastic teaching candidate.

I have a professional attitude when it comes to working. My colleagues and I can be friendly, but it’s all about the work we do, not creating a friendship. When

This does not necessarily mean I appreciate one method more than another, I will incorporate and blend the three methods of student centered philosophies together. For instance, John Dewey believes that the mind is best trained to analyze experience thoughtfully and draw conclusions objectively. To take real world experiences in the classroom, and use that in new ways. I agree with this philosophy. To have students use their individual experiences, and use those to help them learn in different ways in the class. I do not believe the mind works effectively in a “standard” or teacher based classroom, but rather in a much more individualized setting. I will blend this idea of teaching with social reconstructivism, theorized by George Counts. His idea was to “reform” society through schooling, to highlight the problem areas and inequities in our own society. I like the idea of this, it helps open up students mind to what a more fair world should be, but I do not believe this is what school should be entirely focused on. That is the purpose of blending methods. As well as existentialism, the method of helping students appreciate themselves as unique individuals, and helping them find their way. I do not believe students have a successful education when they are told the “right way” of the world, and that they need to discover their own beliefs and interests through

This is not a friendship, rather getting to know them well as my students. A simple handshake or “hello” the first time you see them in the day can really help gauge how they are feeling. I will not be afraid to ask students how their life outside of school is, and to not be a “scary” influence. I am their teacher, not their boss or parents. Using my close relationship with students, I can much more effectively regulate behavior in the classroom. I always encourage positive, effective, and safe learning environments. That being said, when disruption arises in a student, I can simply say their name and tell them “this is not the time to be talking”. Given that I have built I relationship, the student will likely comply, and perhaps apologize. I am not there to punish a student, but to help them learn. As far as meeting student needs, that can vary widely based on what they need. If it is something as simple as a student prefers to sit in the front of the classroom, I can easily make seating arrangements. Or if it is something fundamental, such as the student is having a hard time learning, I can make accommodations to the ways I teach in class, or I would be more than happy to come early or stay after to help individual