Teaching Philosophy

         I believe everyone has a right to an education. Through education we develop a deeper sense of self-efficacy, we build relationships, and we develop and nurture our culture. It is the role of the educator to ensure each classroom is a positive learning environment. An environment that is free from prejudice against race, religion, orientation, sex or ability.  An environment that promotes mutual respect, encourages creative thinking, develops passion though engagement and focuses on life-long learning. I believe this is important because I know that still, today, not just in schools in other countries, but here in Lethbridge this is still an issue. Students are fighting for their right to an education free from prejudice. This is something we need to change. Every single student should be able to go to school and get an education without fearing for their safety, and it is our job as new teachers to be a part of the catalyst for this change.

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         I believe that when students feel comfortable in their environment they are more willing to take risks. They are not afraid to make mistakes because mistakes help them grow and develop deeper knowledge. When students feel their thoughts and ideas are being heard and respected their ability to learn flourishes. For this reason, I believe students should be included in the creation of classroom expectations. In doing so, students have a say in the overall class atmosphere and will hold themselves and their peers accountable to these expectations. I feel really fortunate that I never experienced any terrible teachers or teaching practices in my educational experience but I do wish I had more say in my classroom expectations. It always felt like I was following someone else’s rules; I think if I would have had some say in those rules I would have taken more ownership for them and had more pride in respecting them.

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        I believe it is the role of the educator to be well versed in the curricula.  Teachers are the facilitators of knowledge for their students. I believe it is important for teachers to have a thorough understanding of the material they are teaching and be up to date on new and emerging curricula. At the same time, I believe it is the responsibility of the teacher to be critical of new and emerging ideas. To decide if these new ideas are truly beneficial for their students and how they will incorporate them into their teaching. I do not think every change that is proposed to the curriculum is for the betterment of the students and as teachers that should be our priority. If we expect our students to be critical of the material they are learning we too must be critical of our new information.

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        I believe in inclusive education, every student has individual needs. It is the responsibility of the teacher to get to know their individual students, and their respective learning style(s). I feel it is the duty of the teacher to reconstruct their teaching style and the curriculum to fit the needs of their students. No student should be forced to sit in a classroom simply to be considered “included”. Inclusion is adapting the information for all students to engage in learning; whatever forms that learning may take. I believe in order for this goal to be achieved the teacher must be passionate about educating young minds, patient with each student and their individual needs, and persistent in their day-to-day teaching. Not every lesson will go well, not every student will have an innate love for learning; it is the responsibility of the teacher to treat each day as a new day, leave prejudice at the door and continue to persevere in their role as an educator.  

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        I believe the mental and physical health of both students and teachers is of the utmost importance. Teachers need to play a role in ending the stigma placed on mental health by society. Students need to be taught how to care for themselves and their health and understand their health is always a main priority. Teachers must be advocates for mental heath and model self care. Students should feel their classroom is a safe space to talk about their concerns about mental health, ask for advice, or seek guidance. I know first hand how hard it can be to admit you need help, to feel the shame and stigma attached to anxiety or depression. I want my students to know there is no shame in our classroom, that what they are feeling is valid and that they have a safe space to talk about it.

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        I believe in fair assessment. Assessment practices need to be for the benefit of the student, not to make grading easier for the teacher. I believe students should have input in their assessment outcomes and should be involved in peer feedback. It is the responsibility of the teacher to model and describe quality feedback so students can become successful in providing feedback for their peers. I believe in frequent formative assessment. Check-ins allow for the teacher to assess what information needs to be re-addressed and what information is understood successfully. I believe summative assessments should provide a level of choice for the students. I feel students should have more than one option when presenting their knowledge so they can express their understanding in a way that is most comfortable to them.  In order for this to be successful, the teacher will have to work to create summative assessments that allow for additional modalities, while still maintaining construct and concurrent validity.

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        I believe teachers need to be role models outside of the classroom setting. Choosing to become a teacher is not just a profession. Teachers will interact with their students outside of the classroom and within their communities. Teachers need to be a positive role model and mentor for their students and for future students. I hope to be a role model for my students and that will extend to the person I am within our community. I want to show my students the way I treat them in the classroom is the same way I treat others in our community, with respect and understanding.

 

        I know that my Teaching Philosophy will grow and develop as I become a teacher, and every day thereafter, I hope to continue to change and add to my Teaching Philosophy as I gain new knowledge, and as I grow as an individual.