Teaching Philosophy

My Vision:  

• • I aim to prepare students for a limitless future by teaching with culturally responsive pedagogy, embracing multiple literacies, and by cultivating an environment in which students can think, learn, and communicate with agility and adaptability to pursue their dreams.

  • In this class, we commit to developing as active, purposeful learners through the concept of ‘Auamo Kuleana–collective transformation through individual excellence. 

We'll approach our curriculum and interactions with a values-centered lens, consistently tying back to these core beliefs:

• Engage: We will actively engage with the surrounding community and current events, recognizing that learning extends beyond our classroom walls. We commit to fully participating and striving for our best in all that we do.

• Inquire: We believe in the power of curiosity. We won't settle for the status quo but will be curious, asking questions to inquire about different ways to solve complex problems, always working for depth and nuance.

• Explore: We value perspective. We will explore the ideas and experiences of others, and reflect on our own, to gain a richer understanding of the world and ourselves.

• Empower: We are generous, kind, and affirming to others as well as ourselves. We will empower ourselves and each other by co-creating a learning community in which mistakes are embraced as learning opportunities, and milestones are celebrated and built upon.

I believe that we are always in the process of becoming.  We learn from our every day experiences and are never the same as before.  Here’s a snapshot of what my philosophy on teaching is as of this moment in my life:

As a teacher, it is my duty to provide a brave and productive space for all students to grow in various facets of their lives. My students will challenge me to assess my own beliefs and what I know, as I challenge them to become critical and engaged citizens of the world. To think acutely of the world, students need to think critically about what they already know in search of a brighter future that is waiting to be lived. My students will not be jaded dreamers, but instead, they will become engaged learners and thinkers. They will learn to articulate their truths.

To be engaged thinkers, I will ask my students to listen to the voices that are sometimes left unheard. I will allow characters who live on the fringe, who live in the margins and in the binding of the books to speak to my students through literature, multimedia exploration, and critical discussion. We don't go to the margins to change others; we go to the margins to be changed. My students will learn to draw connections and conclusions between classroom material and will learn how they can apply their knowledge to benefit the greater society.

My theory on teaching and learning is heavily influenced by both Paulo Freire and Nel Noddings who have taught me that true dialogue is at the core of education. In order to have true dialogue, a classroom must first have a foundation of care. By leading with a pedagogy of caring relation, I will help students come to the conclusion that they all have value and purpose in this world. I understand that it is not realistic to ask my students to change the entire world all at once, but we can change the individual worlds of others, one idea and one thoughtful discussion at a time.

Alright, y’all.  Let’s roll.

–Dr. Tom