Philosophy Statement

For me, teaching called my name far before I ever got to say out loud that I wanted to teach. I was afraid that people wouldn’t respect my career choices, but I owed it to myself to be honest. I only have one life to live, so I need to make it worth it. That is why I believe that being the best teacher I can be starts with building a trusting relationship with students, staying up to date with my teaching practices, and embracing differences in the classroom.

Being able to trust my teachers was an essential part of my education. It has led me to ask for help and participate, so I believe that is what my students should also feel comfortable doing. When a teacher takes the time to get to know their students, their energy in the classroom changes. The students will feel like they matter which can lead them to be more engaged in their learning. For example, by finding out what students do on the weekends, teachers can get an insight of what life looks like at home. Children love to talk about themselves so it shouldn’t be a challenge. Being an approachable teacher is extremely important in building a community within the classroom.

Another way that I can be the best teacher I can be is by staying up to date with my teaching practices. It worries me now that I won’t be able to get through to my students, but I know that I have a lot to learn. I hope to always try new things every year and update my lessons as often as I can. Times are always changing so that means that my lessons should too. Nobody can learn in an outdated classroom so keeping in touch with time is a must. One easy way I plan on doing this is by listening to podcasts such as “The Cult of Pedagogy” which discusses teaching strategies, education reform, and educational technology, etc. It is an easy and convenient way to stay informed. I’ve had a few teachers who didn’t seem to adapt as well and it made me think that they hated their jobs or that they were always bored. That is not what I want my students to think. For that reason, I want to make sure that I always spice things up in my lessons and try new things in order to teach efficiently.

Lastly, I strongly believe that diversity and differences enrich the classroom environment. For that reason, I always want to emphasize how important differences are no matter what area it may be in. Teaching young children not to compare themselves to others is something that can really make a difference in a child’s life. This is especially important if they grew up in a place where they didn’t get to see anything other than themselves or people who looked like them. I hope to always remind my students that whether it’s how they learn, what they look like, or how they sound like, being different is a good thing and it’s completely normal!

As an educator, I have a lot of responsibilities and goals I have for my classroom. It is impossible for a teacher to do everything, but as long as we do our best to teach, respect, and appreciate our students, we have done our job. Learning will only occur if and when a student feels like a teacher does these things. I also hope to continuously learn from other teachers and my students. Children need teachers who are approachable, energetic, and unique and that is who I aspire to be. I hope to always improve and think outside the box in order to stay with the times. If there is one thing that a classroom needs, it’s a passionate and goal driven teacher. And that’s exactly who I am.