Teaching Philosophy

 

My philosophy of teaching is still growing. However, with all the classes I have taken and the field experiences that I have been offered, I can say what I believe about teaching and how the classroom should be run. Every student can learn the material, but students need to have the scaffolded learning experience to fully learn it. It is my job as the teacher to cultivate that learning in a way that fits all of my students need. I also want to be a beacon for my students. They deserve a role model that they can turn to if they ever need help or someone to talk to, and it's my job to be there for them. Middle school is an interesting time with everything changing, and it can feel awkward for students to just exist. This is also a big time for gaining responsibility. One teaching strategy that I believe is efficient for most, if not all, middle schoolers is the opportunity to discover and learn for themselves. Project-based learning or the flipped classroom are great examples of this. I encourage my students to discover their own learning, where I could be a facilitator and a guide in this process. I also believe that teaching is an artform and therefore cannot fully be mastered because it is constantly changing. Therefore, teaching requires constant learning on the teacher’s part too, and continuously seeking out new resources and ideas is key to be successful in the field.  

My philosophy continues into discipline and assessment. Students won’t learn if their space isn’t safe. Learning can and should be fun, but it should also be in an orderly and safe fashion. Establishing classroom procedures early and enforcing them without hesitation is key. I also believe that students should have the opportunity to help pick out their classroom rules. It’s their learning space too! I believe that assessments also aren’t the “end all be all” of school. Yes, test scores are important in our society. However, sometimes assessments don’t show the full extent of the learning that a student has done. I would much rather have my students fully know and engage with the content rather than just memorize the information to pass a test.  

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