Educational Philosophy
Beliefs about Teaching and Learning
My goal as an educator is to facilitate the learning process of students by making the transfer of knowledge interesting and appealing while achieving set standards and goals. I believe that teaching and learning is active and not passive. I believe that students need to understand the application of what they are learning. Without knowing the application, knowledge is not concrete. I will use subject integration to demonstrate to students how their new knowledge is used and its importance. I believe that students learn in different ways. I will use various teaching methods, assignments, and projects to appeal to the various multiple intelligences. I believe that homework and assignments are beneficial to the educational process. As with any new skill, it needs to be practiced and perfected. I will use homework and projects to fulfill this need. I strongly believe in rubrics. Rubrics help to remove subjectivity in grading. Students and parents need to know what is expected. I will use rubrics to communicate my expectations.
Beliefs about Students
My goal as an educator is to help students to maximize their potential, achieve educational excellence and become the best persons they can be. I believe that every student has unlimited potential. I will determine each student’s strengths and weakness. I believe students can be anything they want to be and can achieve anything, if they are willing to work for it. I will emphasize each student’s strengths. I will give students the tools and opportunities to mitigate their weakness. I will use cooperative learning and skills pairing so that each student has opportunities to shine. Cooperative learning also gives students a chance to share their specialties and to help fellow students. I believe students can learn and achieve if given knowledge, opportunities, and tools. I will instill in the students the thirst for knowledge. If questions come up, I will have the students use available resources to find and share the answers. I will provide opportunities for students to use their creativity and curiosity with the use of topic chosen projects. I will also provide tools such as books, manipulatives, visual aides and technology. I believe that students strive to please and achieve. I will establish various recognition systems using praise and special activities.
Beliefs about Knowledge
My goal as an educator is to provide a well-rounded education. Knowledge is all there is to know in the universe. Knowledge is not a constant. There are new pieces of knowledge discovered everyday. Because of our ever-changing world, I believe that students should receive a well-rounded education. I will expose students to the core curriculum along with the arts and sciences. I will then build on this foundation by using current events and subjects of interest to the students. I will demonstrate to the students how the various subjects are related. I will also show students how the various subjects are applicable to their lives.
Beliefs about What is Worth Knowing
My goal as an educator is to provide knowledge, opportunities and experiences for each student to be successful. All knowledge is worth knowing; but not by everyone. I believe there is a basic skills set that everyone needs to know to get through life. I will teach students the core curriculum (i.e. reading, writing, and math). I will teach students social skills (i.e. being an effective communicator, being a good listener, sharing, and respect). I will also teach students critical thinking skills (i.e. problem-solving, decision-making, and how to think and question). Students should learn what they need depending on goals, career choices, opportunities, and interests. I will let students explore their interests through various student choice projects and assignments. Students should also have opportunities to experience and try different things. School may be the only opportunity for some students to have certain opportunities and experiences. I will provide the opportunities and experiences with field trips, guest speakers, and community service projects.
Classroom Management Philosophy
I Believe in:
- Mutual respect for others and property
- A proactive learning environment
- An efficient and effective learning environment through organization and planning
- The teacher being a facilitator, leader, and role model
- Creating a safe and nurturing environment through structure and routines
- Quality instruction
- Independent thinkers
- Hands-on experiences that provide lasting impressions
- Curriculum that is meaningful, interesting and age appropriate to the students
- Creating a classroom community through class meetings and shared responsibilities
- Students having some voice in classroom matters
- Student developed rules and consequences with consistency in discipline
- Consistency of grading through the use of rubrics
- Strong teacher/student/parent relationships through effective, timely, and continual communications
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