My Teaching Philosophy
WHY I TEACH:
My professional and personal goal is to teach at the elementary and middle school levels. Having been an educator since 2005, has been one of the greatest gifts I feel that I can share with children and their families. I feel such an extreme amount of joy when I am able to teach children, and see them begin to grasp the important concepts being conveyed – be it something that is tangible, an educational concept, or a newly learned “life skill.” Through instructional sessions, as well as everyday communication and involvement, my students and I have built a lasting bond that benefits both their learning experience and mine. I strongly feel that it is necessary to develop an excellent line of communication and cooperation between the students, parents, administration, and faculty of the school, so that we can all work together as one to meet each student’s individual needs. These particular elements are exceptionally important to me both in the field of education, as well as, in daily life. I am also a very goal-oriented and creative person, which I have discovered time and time again, to be very effective in the learning process. I love to find new ways to relate to each student, as well as their families, to improve upon their success and learning experience.
WHAT I TEACH:
As an educator, it is of utmost importance to cover the material within the curriculum, but I also like to take my role as a teacher further. I focus on teaching the students responsibility, respect, determination, focus, and dedication to the goals they are aiming to achieve. Through modeling and practice, I would like to see my students obtain their own critical thinking skills, be creative, and use bold thinking skills. I also feel it is very important to teach the students questioning, and not just accept an idea or concept at face value, open communication skills with their peers, parents, teachers, and other adults, problem solving skills, and most importantly, how the skills and concepts they learn in the classroom setting can be applied to their daily lives.
HOW I TEACH:
A teacher should understand that different students learn in different ways, and that there will be a wide range of skills and abilities within the classroom. I would integrate diverse instructional strategies into my lessons to address as many learning methods as possible. I would be sure to have my classroom decorated with educational posters and utilize graphic organizers with the students. Also, I would use visualization, drawing, sketching, writing things out, as well as manipulatives, for a more visual and hands on experience. Moreover, through incorporating different instructional methods, such as whole group instruction, small group instruction, pairings, and one-on-one instruction, I would have students work both with me, and with each other, for activities such as reading groups, math groups, and problem solving groups. Since each student is an individual, assignments may have to be modified based on the student’s skill level; therefore, I would make any modifications necessary, individualize instruction and assignments if need be, and follow any 504 plans and accommodations. Furthermore, I would design, develop, and present high interest activities and assignments to help the students be more enthusiastic about learning. It is not only very important for the students to learn the skills within the curriculum, but also extremely important for them to take interest and become passionate about what they are learning. This is especially very important for the students who are below or above grade level, so that their interest is held, and they are able to learn and apply new concepts. Additionally, by implementing the use of technology in the classroom as a learning tool, and allowing students personal access to technology, I will be able to greatly expand upon the students’ learning experiences in a distinct and positive manner. Overall, my main goal is to have the students absorb the information being taught effectively, and have them be able to focus and work to their utmost ability.
HOW I MEASURE MY EFFECTIVENESS:
Effectiveness can be measured in many different ways. Therefore, to measure both student learning and my own effectiveness in teaching, I utilize formative assessments through both formal and informal assessment procedures, as well as, interim assessments to evaluate the progress the students are making in learning the material being taught and to determine whether they are on track to performing well on future assessments, such as a standardized test or larger exam. The use of summative assessments in the classroom to compare the students learning and grasp of the material as compared to a standard or benchmark, are also implemented. More informally, I like to utilize reflective practice with the students to see what they have learned, what they understand and can apply, and what they need more work on. Additionally, I like to seek advice and feedback from my colleagues so that I can make improvements as needed. Furthermore, I strongly feel the best measure of my effectiveness in teaching is an open line of communication between myself, the students, and the parents, so that I can gauge what each student is grasping, and what areas need more focus, so that each student’s academic and individual needs can be met accordingly.
My professional and personal goal is to teach at the elementary and middle school levels. Having been an educator since 2005, has been one of the greatest gifts I feel that I can share with children and their families. I feel such an extreme amount of joy when I am able to teach children, and see them begin to grasp the important concepts being conveyed – be it something that is tangible, an educational concept, or a newly learned “life skill.” Through instructional sessions, as well as everyday communication and involvement, my students and I have built a lasting bond that benefits both their learning experience and mine. I strongly feel that it is necessary to develop an excellent line of communication and cooperation between the students, parents, administration, and faculty of the school, so that we can all work together as one to meet each student’s individual needs. These particular elements are exceptionally important to me both in the field of education, as well as, in daily life. I am also a very goal-oriented and creative person, which I have discovered time and time again, to be very effective in the learning process. I love to find new ways to relate to each student, as well as their families, to improve upon their success and learning experience.
WHAT I TEACH:
As an educator, it is of utmost importance to cover the material within the curriculum, but I also like to take my role as a teacher further. I focus on teaching the students responsibility, respect, determination, focus, and dedication to the goals they are aiming to achieve. Through modeling and practice, I would like to see my students obtain their own critical thinking skills, be creative, and use bold thinking skills. I also feel it is very important to teach the students questioning, and not just accept an idea or concept at face value, open communication skills with their peers, parents, teachers, and other adults, problem solving skills, and most importantly, how the skills and concepts they learn in the classroom setting can be applied to their daily lives.
HOW I TEACH:
A teacher should understand that different students learn in different ways, and that there will be a wide range of skills and abilities within the classroom. I would integrate diverse instructional strategies into my lessons to address as many learning methods as possible. I would be sure to have my classroom decorated with educational posters and utilize graphic organizers with the students. Also, I would use visualization, drawing, sketching, writing things out, as well as manipulatives, for a more visual and hands on experience. Moreover, through incorporating different instructional methods, such as whole group instruction, small group instruction, pairings, and one-on-one instruction, I would have students work both with me, and with each other, for activities such as reading groups, math groups, and problem solving groups. Since each student is an individual, assignments may have to be modified based on the student’s skill level; therefore, I would make any modifications necessary, individualize instruction and assignments if need be, and follow any 504 plans and accommodations. Furthermore, I would design, develop, and present high interest activities and assignments to help the students be more enthusiastic about learning. It is not only very important for the students to learn the skills within the curriculum, but also extremely important for them to take interest and become passionate about what they are learning. This is especially very important for the students who are below or above grade level, so that their interest is held, and they are able to learn and apply new concepts. Additionally, by implementing the use of technology in the classroom as a learning tool, and allowing students personal access to technology, I will be able to greatly expand upon the students’ learning experiences in a distinct and positive manner. Overall, my main goal is to have the students absorb the information being taught effectively, and have them be able to focus and work to their utmost ability.
HOW I MEASURE MY EFFECTIVENESS:
Effectiveness can be measured in many different ways. Therefore, to measure both student learning and my own effectiveness in teaching, I utilize formative assessments through both formal and informal assessment procedures, as well as, interim assessments to evaluate the progress the students are making in learning the material being taught and to determine whether they are on track to performing well on future assessments, such as a standardized test or larger exam. The use of summative assessments in the classroom to compare the students learning and grasp of the material as compared to a standard or benchmark, are also implemented. More informally, I like to utilize reflective practice with the students to see what they have learned, what they understand and can apply, and what they need more work on. Additionally, I like to seek advice and feedback from my colleagues so that I can make improvements as needed. Furthermore, I strongly feel the best measure of my effectiveness in teaching is an open line of communication between myself, the students, and the parents, so that I can gauge what each student is grasping, and what areas need more focus, so that each student’s academic and individual needs can be met accordingly.