Teaching Philosophy

When I was a child, I was the kid who would line up her dolls and play “school” with them. I had a little wooden chalkboard and a pointer with an apple for a handle, and I would spend hours writing math problems, spelling words, and questions for my “pupils” to answer. At that time, I knew I wanted to one day become a teacher and help students reach their full potential. As an adult, I have rekindled that passion through my job as a paraprofessional at Bernardsville Middle School. Through this job, I have been able to look back through my life and my experiences with education and find my “why” for teaching.

The largest part of my “why” is that I want to build relationships with students and inspire them to reach their full potential. I know from experience the impact that a supportive adult can have in building a child’s confidence and helping them grow. When I was in second grade, my homeroom teacher, Mrs. Allmon was this person for me. To this day, I remember the impact her kindness and support had on me academically and emotionally. When I think of my teaching philosophy, I always go back to Mrs. Allmon and the way she saw each of her students as an individual. Fundamentally, I want to play this role in the lives of my students. As a teacher, I plan to prioritize relationships with my students, and use those relationships as a foundation for the academic and social/emotional learning that will occur within my classroom.