My Philosophy of Teaching and Learning

As a teacher, I want to play three important roles in my students’ lives.  I want to be my students’ friend, advocate, and teacher.  As a friend, I want to listen to my students and give advice, but mostly let them know they have me to turn to.  As an advocate, I want to support my students’ needs and interests.  If my students need extra assistance or if something is preventing them from participating and learning, I will find ways to make sure they receive a proper education.  As a teacher, I want to provide my students with tools and a strong foundation of learning experiences so they can continue to learn and achieve.  As my students’ advocate and teacher, I will try my best to acknowledge where they each come from.  This means I will acknowledge each of my student’s background and culture.  In learning about each of my students, I hope to find ways to help them overcome barriers and obstacles so their education is not compromised.  In addition, I want to try to teach my students to the best of my ability so they can become intelligent and decent people of our society.      

What do I want for my students and for myself?  I want my students to hold an abundance of knowledge and skills because I believe the amount of knowledge a person holds can impact his or her future.  I want my students to have knowledge and skills because I want them to have control over their lives and to be able to make decisions.  With my guidance, I want my students to obtain valuable and meaningful experiences that will help them have a positive outlook towards school and life.  Furthermore, I want my students to believe that education is the key to success.  As for myself, I want to be able to continuously learn from my students so I can be better at meeting their needs.  In other words, I want to learn from my students on how to be an effective teacher.

            Moreover, I want my class to be my students’ second home and a place where we make up a community of learners.  In order to promote learning in my classroom, I want to make sure that the environment is welcoming and supportive.  I can make sure the environment is positive by acknowledging where my students come from and by respecting them.  More importantly, I can make sure the environment is positive by teaching my students to respect one another as well. With a positive atmosphere in the class, students will feel comfortable and safe to exchange ideas and participate. In addition, in order to promote a community of learners, I want to teach in a way where my students will see me as a resource and then with the tools and skills they have learned, they will start to see one another as resources. When students are working with one another, they will see what they each have to contribute, value their efforts, and continue working this way.

As a teacher, I will constantly put myself in my students’ shoes because I think I will learn what they need best when I try to see through their eyes. In their shoes, I will see their interests, abilities, and needs. By observing my students and getting to know them, I can create lesson plans that are engaging and relevant. As a teacher, I will constantly bring my students’ experiences into the classroom and use them as tools for learning. By allowing my students to bring in their personal stories into the classroom and to make connections, my students will have a sense of belonging and realize they are contributing members of the class. As a teacher, I want the best for my students and I want them to become responsible and successful members of our ever changing society.