Philosophy of Pedagogy

During my coursework and training to be a teacher, I have been taught many educational philosophies and practices. The MSU "Portrait of a Teacher" is a fantastic model of what a teacher should be, but I like to keep things simple.

When I become a teacher, I will ask myself two "yes" or "no" questions at the end of each school day:

1. Did my students learn something today?

2. Did they enjoy today?

I believe school is a place to learn, but is also so much more. Students develop life skills, interact socially, and internalize beliefs about themselves and the world around them. And most of all, they experience about one-third of their youth. Asking the above questions can then open up an entire reflection, including but not limited to: What can I do to improve my teaching practices? Is there anything I can do to help or support my students' well-being? How can I reach every student?

As a Social Studies teacher, I do of course want my students to develop content mastery, and be able to pass assessments and testing. But, most students, except those with a genuine passion for the subject, will dump out the facts I taught them once Summer vacation begins. What matters more to me, therefore, is their formation as a person , and not so much their acquiring information.

Students exiting my class should leave with the following:

1. Curiosity to be attuned to the world and the issues within it

2. Critical Thinking skills to question propositions

3. Problem Solving skills to tackle the issues of the future

With all this in mind, education should be active, engaging, and challenging. Students should be enthralled by learning, and excited to come to school. Their experience at school, both in and out of the classroom, should broaden horizons, sharpen skills, and help the student grow academically, socially, and emotionally.