My Teaching Philosophy
I believe that learning should be constant,
that teaching should be creative,
that students should be cared about,
and that literature should be cogitated.
that teaching should be creative,
that students should be cared about,
and that literature should be cogitated.
Learning should be constant
I believe in lifelong learning. As a teacher I want to implement the most effective strategies and become what I see as successful; this requires constant inquiry and learning on my part. This also means that my teaching philosophy will continue to develop and improve over time, that the way I teach today may change tomorrow, and that what works for one student will most likely not work for the next. I believe in keeping my eyes open and my blinders off, trying new ways when the old ways aren't working, and creating a love for learning in my students so they will do the same.
Teaching should be creative
I believe that good teaching goes beyond the "how to", and ignites in students a "want to". Being a creative teacher means I will not only work to find ways to stimulate my students, but I will remember that not all students are stimulated the same way and will require different learning methods. I believe that creativity goes beyond the decorations of a classroom or the gimmicks of teaching, but is more about helping students make connections, discover new ideas, see different perspectives, and stimulate their curiosity. I believe that creative teachers produce creative students.
Students should be cared about
I believe that it is important for each student to discover their individual strengths and learn how to be successful in them. While this takes a level of commitment and effort from the student, it also takes a teacher who can successfully create an atmosphere in the classroom where students will be intrinsically motivated to do their best work. I believe this can begin by simply showing a genuine interest in each student. I believe that this simple act of caring is what will teach students that they are an important part of their classroom community, that their ideas matter, that their voices are important and that mistakes are just a part of learning.
Literature should be cogitated
I believe that literature is for our enjoyment and for our enlightenment. "Great" literature should make us think. It is through literature that history is captured, science is debated, and stories are shared. Because of this, I believe that literature is a vital voice that students must hear to help them understand the experiences of others in a way that pushes them to think critically about who they are and about the world they live in, and to help students discover themselves and make connections with those around them. My goal is to teach literature in such a way that students will grow in appreciation for its array of perspectives and for its beauty of language.