In order to understand anyone's classroom, you have to understand their philosophy. It is ultimately what fuels us and drives us in all decisions whether they are on the spot or during planning.
My philosophy on teaching can be defined in three different focus areas. First, and the most obvious, is with content. When I first began my journey in teaching, I was glued to a pacing guide and was trying to fit every learner into a box. As time has gone by, I have realized that the classroom needs to student centered and guided. I am not a dictator; I am a facilitator that helps students develop appreciation for learning and perseverance. Teachers must support all learners no matter their culture, socio-demographic status, or their learning challenges. Content must be challenging and rigorous but not inaccessible. Students need to have the opportunity to collaborate and communicate ideas with others in order to create a solution strategy or conclusion. As can be seen in the image above, I never want to tell my students they are "smart" because this implies one of two things. If they get it right the first or second time they are a success. If they don't, they are a failure that should give up and let the smart people do it. Inventions and innovation don’t have a “right answer”; they are created through effort and learning from mistakes. Failure should not be synonymous with giving up, instead it should be seen as a challenge that should be overcome. The right answer is always secondary; it's the process to getting to that answer that matters. Being an educator is not about the content taught but creating a love and passion for learning that will last a lifetime.
The second focus in my philosophy is the relational and social necessities of the classroom. As a teacher, my students need to know that I care and that I am their biggest fan. At the same time, they need to know that I am their coach and it is my job to push them towards their personal best. Just like a coach in the sports world, it is important to nurture strengths and to give students the tools to overcome or refine their weaknesses. I believe you need to fight for your students, not against them. I have learned you have to be flexible and adapt throughout a lesson even if it’s not planned. The classroom needs to be a judgment free environment where chances and mistakes are celebrated and not condemned. I always post the quote on my wall; failure is just another word for learning. Learning is hard work.
My philosophy on teaching can be defined in three different focus areas. First, and the most obvious, is with content. When I first began my journey in teaching, I was glued to a pacing guide and was trying to fit every learner into a box. As time has gone by, I have realized that the classroom needs to student centered and guided. I am not a dictator; I am a facilitator that helps students develop appreciation for learning and perseverance. Teachers must support all learners no matter their culture, socio-demographic status, or their learning challenges. Content must be challenging and rigorous but not inaccessible. Students need to have the opportunity to collaborate and communicate ideas with others in order to create a solution strategy or conclusion. As can be seen in the image above, I never want to tell my students they are "smart" because this implies one of two things. If they get it right the first or second time they are a success. If they don't, they are a failure that should give up and let the smart people do it. Inventions and innovation don’t have a “right answer”; they are created through effort and learning from mistakes. Failure should not be synonymous with giving up, instead it should be seen as a challenge that should be overcome. The right answer is always secondary; it's the process to getting to that answer that matters. Being an educator is not about the content taught but creating a love and passion for learning that will last a lifetime.
The second focus in my philosophy is the relational and social necessities of the classroom. As a teacher, my students need to know that I care and that I am their biggest fan. At the same time, they need to know that I am their coach and it is my job to push them towards their personal best. Just like a coach in the sports world, it is important to nurture strengths and to give students the tools to overcome or refine their weaknesses. I believe you need to fight for your students, not against them. I have learned you have to be flexible and adapt throughout a lesson even if it’s not planned. The classroom needs to be a judgment free environment where chances and mistakes are celebrated and not condemned. I always post the quote on my wall; failure is just another word for learning. Learning is hard work.
The last focus of my teaching philosophy is personal. I strive to never think that I know best, and never to get too comfortable. I want to be a teacher that is constantly changing their practice and isn’t becoming stale or unmotivated. I want to be an example to my students and constantly be learning and researching my passions and interests. I never want to stop learning and collaborating with other professionals. Although teaching has many different facets, ultimately it comes down to passion and heart. When you have faith and belief in something it is infectious to others. As a teacher, I hope to pass that love and passion on to every student that enters my room.