Teaching Philosophy

My philosophy toward teaching is a growing philosophy and will probably change with each day of experience that I gain in and out of the classroom. My main goal is to bring the educational process alive to my students. No matter what area I may end up teaching I want my lessons to be relatable to each of my students. If a student feels that the content is important and that they can feel some way connected to it then they will try harder and want to learn more about the subject.

I hope to have a living classroom. I am not a teacher who wants my children to be silent drones taking notes as I lecture to them. The classroom should be full of learning interaction. My lectures will be more like interactive discussions as a class. We can all learn from each other’s experiences and past. Questions and answers bring about more questions and answers which enrich the conversation and take learning to another level beyond reading from your textbook. When not involved in classroom discussions students can learn directly from each other on a peer-to-peer teaching level by having small groups to complete assignments and projects as well as working together to make presentations to present to the class. The use of technology is a key to keeping students interested in what is going on, take their natural desire to play on their cell phones or tablets and make it a chance to learn or to be assessed.

Assessments are key in the learning process and must be done several times throughout a lesson. Of course I will need to have regular tests, but also I will include portfolios, presentations, written works and projects to show that the student has mastered material. Quick assessments can be obtained throughout the classroom discussion, utilizing technology applications to ask questions will help students remain attentive. This will also give me an idea of what you need to go back over or if you are ready to move forward.

With experience, my teaching will improve as my career progresses. I do not believe that you ever stop learning and that goes for the teacher as well. You have to keep your mind open and never stop teaching, but also never stop learning.