Philosophy of Teaching
*created for "Intro to Elementary Education" class at Auburn University.
As a teacher, I strive to make a positive impact on my students’ learning and encourage them to interact with the material I teach and their classmates. It is my job to create a safe learning environment that promotes curiosity and a desire to increase their knowledge of the world around them. As an educator and someone who directly influences students, I realize it is my responsibility to demonstrate character traits such as, honesty, kindness, and integrity, all of which are uplifting to others. I will also make it a point to teach character traits that are necessary for interactions with others alongside the required content for the school year. As a teacher, I will have a high knowledge and understanding of the contents that I teach. Due to my unwavering commitment to my students, it is obvious that my students inspire my passion and love of my career.
​
Learning occurs through critical thinking, everyday activities, experiences, class discussions, and assignments that allow students to use the information they learn and apply it to real-world situations. When learning occurs, connections are made within the brain to store the information presented to the individual. I know learning occurs when my students are able to use critical thinking to recall their previous experiences and connections made in the brain. These previous experiences and connections help the student reach a solution to a problem. The purpose of education is to equip young minds and prepare them for the world they will soon impact directly as adults. Society values education because it is important that the next generation is well-informed of our nation’s history and how far society has come. This allows students to synthesize the entirety of their education to make a cultural or academic impact on their society.
​
I believe the classroom is a shared space between my students and me, and it is expected that all language is used to build others up and that all students speak in a respectable, positive tone. To encourage class interaction, I must ensure all of the lessons are engaging and promote critical thinking for each student as well as the class as a whole. I want to minimize the amount of standard teaching lectures and have students interact with each other to find new ways to learn concepts. My classroom is an environment where every student knows they are important and valued by their classmates and me. My classroom is organized and my students are fully engaged in the activities I have set before them. There is a great deal of group work in my classroom so that my students are exposed to working with others and learning from each other. Multiple areas will be open for students to create and explore with different tools promote and enhance learning. A positive and inviting classroom environment is crucial to create an area where students muster the desire to learn and participate in all activities.
I understand my classroom is an environment filled with students with unique backgrounds, personalities, and scholastic needs. I strive to know each student individually and constantly learn how I can better teach each child. I will successfully monitor learning and provide feedback to each student in order to promote success. Having a positive, secure relationship is important so that my students trust me and know I am their advocate and constant encourager. I believe children have ample room to grow and as an educator, it is my duty to ensure that each student is able to exceed all expectations that are presented in the classroom.