Teaching Philosophy

 

Teachers have jobs like no other in this world, and I believe in making sure that my students are growing both academically and personally are the most important parts. I want to create a safe and welcoming environment for my students so share and grow so that when they leave my classroom, they are ready to take on the real world. Below is what I think is important as a teacher to make sure my students are successful.

First, I think is important that students are able to learn useful life skills so that they can function in today’s society. I think something that is important for me to remember about the age group that I will be teaching (7-12) that some of them are starting to think about life after high school. Of course, it is important for them to grasp the concepts of what they are learning in class, but it is also important to leave them with something they can use after they graduate to function in society, not just remembering key facts or dates. As a social studies teacher I think I have a great opportunity being able to teach students about our legal system, how to vote, and about the economy, and hopefully they can take what they learn to use it in the future. Incorporating this in with other basic and key information will really be beneficial for students. When teaching, I think lectures can be useful at times, but not every day. I believe that students learn best when they engage in discussions and solving problems. Discussion allows for students to express their opinions and voices, but also allows them to hear other ideas from other students that they might have not thought about. Then using the information that they are taught to solve problems allows them to fully understand the importance of the content, relate to it, and see how they can use it. This provides for a better experience than them sitting and taking notes of a projector every day.

Another thing I believe that is important is incorporating assessment assignments as frequently as possible. The reason for this is that it helps me as a teacher know what students are taking away from my class, what they understand, and what they do not understand. This can help me realize if there is something that my students are not understanding but also lets me know if we are ready to move on or not to the next section or chapter. I do not want to wait all the way before a test and then realize that there are still things that my students do not understand, and this will help. These assessment assignments do not also have to be boring but rather something interactive such as a Kahoot game, making a game of jeopardy with the items we went over, even doing a mock trial. All these are part of my teaching philosophy and I believe incorporating them into my classroom will help me make sure that all my students reach their full potential.

A third action that I believe is important as a teacher is building rapport with students. Students are already intimidated by teachers, and some may not even have a liking for their teachers. Having a bad relationship with students is a set up for failure in my opinion. Our students are in crucial parts of their lives where things are constantly changing and as a teacher, I need to keep up with that. It is my duty to get to know my students. This means understanding what they like, what they dislike, what clubs and sports they are apart of, what accomplishments they have just achieved and so much more. Getting to know your students shows that you do truly care. When a student knows you care they will respect you and then they will give you their best effort in your class. As a teacher, the more and more I get to know my students, the better I can adapt to my classroom so that they are getting the best possible education. Also, this allows me to show my students that I do care for them. In today's world mental health is a serious issue and students are going through a time of change where they need as must support as possible. Building report helps me understand what issues my students are dealing with and allows me to help solve issues when they arise so that they do not turn into bigger ones.