Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philosophy has evolved over the past few years as I have continued to learn and grow as a student, a teacher and a person. I have found that my experiences as an undergraduate and as a teaching intern at Michigan State University have shaped my beliefs on teaching and learning. My main goal as a teacher is to provide students with the opportunity for positive learning to occur in the classroom. I believe there are three principles that a teacher must follow to promote positive learning:
- set high expectations for your students
- differentiate instruction
- assess students improvement appropriately
Setting high expectations: To be an effective teacher one must set expectations for their students. These expectations should be clear and should be attainable for each student. If a student does not know the expectations of the teacher, how is the student going to succeed in the classroom? The teacher needs to make sure that expectations and goals are unambiguous and understood by all before a task is given, in order for meaningful learning to occur.
Differentiating instruction: Understanding and being able to adapt to the different learning styles of each individual student in the classroom is necessary to promote positive learning. It has been obvious with my experience in the classroom that students learn differently and at different paces. By applying and providing multiple teaching strategies, students are more apt to find something they can use in the classroom and later on in life.
Assessing students appropriately: Assessing student’s knowledge is difficult for any teacher; assessing students knowledge appropriately is even more challenging. Too often today children are assessed on aspects of their knowledge that they are unaware of. By providing students with clear expectations and differentiated instruction, students will be more likely to succeed in the classroom. Assessing students on what they have learned based on a teacher’s set expectations and instruction is vital in promoting positive learning.
To be successful at implementing these principles a teacher must also embody these characteristics;
- be consistent
- be caring
- be confident
Be consistent: Students today are too familiar with inconsistency, whether it is at home, on the television or at school. A teacher will increase the amount of teaching time, improve student achievement and enhance students’ sense of responsibility if they themselves are consistent with classroom rules and procedures.
Be caring: Going the extra mile with students matters, what you say or what you do, can stay with them a lifetime. In high school, I had a teacher show up to my hockey games every weekend and I thought that was really special. I enjoyed coming to his class even more after he attended my games and I had a greater appreciation for him as an educator.
Be confident: Having confidence in the classroom is key in gaining the respect of your students. Knowing a subject is not the same as instructing one. Being able to confidently stand in front of a class is an important skill to learn in order for students to not only trust you, but trust the material you are giving to them.
By following these principles and embodying these characteristics as a teacher I will connect with learners in an authentic way that promotes positive learning in the classroom and in life.