My Teaching Philosophy
I once had a professor challenge my peers and me to think of a common analogy used to describe our major and expand upon it. The new analogy I came up with has, over time, become one the central points of my approach to teaching and learning. After thinking about several different analogies regarding education, I selected the analogy of a flame. Once sparked, a flame, like a child's love for learning, can grow larger and larger or flicker, dim, and go out. I believe that learning, when fostered, can spread like wildfire. It jumps from person to person till is bursts. I want to spark a desire for learning so strong that is becomes an uncontrollable flame in my students and those they come in contact with!
Teaching is about so much more than providing my students with factual knowledge. It is about inspiring them to learn through every experience life gives them. I believe this inspiration is important because learning is not always going to be easy. Each student will encounter their own challenges in their education, whether that is a struggle occurs early on in school, like I experienced, or one that comes about in high school or later. To face these challenges, students need support. They need the support of their teachers, their families, and most importantly they need the support of themselves. As a teacher it is my goal to provide my students with a fostering environment built upon meaningful relationships and respect in which each student can find the support they need to reach for their greatest potential.
By incorporating a variety of teaching strategies and tools, I can provide engaging instruction to meet the unique learning needs of my students. In each of my lessons I seek to provide the necessary differentiation and scaffolding to allow each child the chance to experience success. I believe this is most effectively achieved through ongoing active learning and exploration experiences. This approach allows students to make learning connections that transcend the classroom and spark learning experiences through critical and reflective thinking in their daily lives.
Through partnerships with families and other community members, as a teacher I will create an inclusive environment where all children are able to explore and develop their learning potential. My hope is that my future classroom becomes a place that each child is able to kindle a continually growing love for learning in a safe and respectful learning community!
Teaching is about so much more than providing my students with factual knowledge. It is about inspiring them to learn through every experience life gives them. I believe this inspiration is important because learning is not always going to be easy. Each student will encounter their own challenges in their education, whether that is a struggle occurs early on in school, like I experienced, or one that comes about in high school or later. To face these challenges, students need support. They need the support of their teachers, their families, and most importantly they need the support of themselves. As a teacher it is my goal to provide my students with a fostering environment built upon meaningful relationships and respect in which each student can find the support they need to reach for their greatest potential.
By incorporating a variety of teaching strategies and tools, I can provide engaging instruction to meet the unique learning needs of my students. In each of my lessons I seek to provide the necessary differentiation and scaffolding to allow each child the chance to experience success. I believe this is most effectively achieved through ongoing active learning and exploration experiences. This approach allows students to make learning connections that transcend the classroom and spark learning experiences through critical and reflective thinking in their daily lives.
Through partnerships with families and other community members, as a teacher I will create an inclusive environment where all children are able to explore and develop their learning potential. My hope is that my future classroom becomes a place that each child is able to kindle a continually growing love for learning in a safe and respectful learning community!