Statement of Teaching Philosophy
“If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.”
– Ignacio Estrada
Beginnings:
The desire to teach has been in me since I was just a little girl. I have always known that I wanted to help people, specifically children. I believe that the ultimate end or goal of schooling is to have given the students the tools and motivation for them to lead successful and fulfilling lives. It is essential that each student maintain their individuality throughout the learning process, and also that they learn to have respect for all aspects of the community. Moreover, it is important for the students to have developed critical thinking skills so they are able to analyze and interpret the multitude of perspectives and issues that they will come across during the course of their lifetimes.
My Image of the Child:
I believe that the student should be at the center of the instructional process. I have an image of children as strong and capable beings. The classroom is a place where the teacher serves as a facilitator and guide as the students construct their own understanding of the world around them. Although it is the teacher’s role to plan lessons and evaluate students’ progress, it is of the utmost importance to always take the children and their own unique needs into consideration. For my second field experience, I was placed at Margaret Manson Elementary. Their school motto is that “the children come first.” When children are the priority in teaching, an amazing amount of learning can take place. I believe in creating opportunities for students to develop to their fullest potential while developing and expanding their horizons and worldviews. In order to accomplish this, there must be a welcoming, positive environment that is open and honest. When students feel comfortable at school they will surely be more engaged and responsive to class activities. I also consider it essential to be passionate and enthusiastic about learning so that the students can have a most relevant and meaningful experience.
Rewards and Discipline:
In terms of rewards and discipline, both should be used sparingly and only to further a student’s understanding of the positive or negative consequences of his or her actions. Giving rewards in elementary school should consist of things the students really want and can strive for. Such rewards should be given in front of the class, so that the behaviour is positively reinforced. Contrastingly, discipline should never been done in front of the entire class. Rather, action should be taken to rectify a particular behaviour in private, so that the student is not made to feel isolated or embarrassed over a mistake. Such actions taken by the teacher can help form a stronger bond between teacher and student and a stronger sense of community within the classroom as a whole. Whether consciously or subconsciously, students will likely realize that the teacher has only their best interests at heart. This realization leads to a mutual respect where the students recognize the teacher’s authority and the teacher recognizes the rights of the students and the accomplishments and difficulties they may face.
Cross-Curricular Opportunities:
Finally, opportunities for learning should take on a variety of forms, and this is where the cross-curricular competencies really come into play. When fine art serves as an outlet for language arts, or sports as an outlet for math, every student has a chance to showcase his or her abilities to their greatest extents. It is up to the teacher to see how learning and evaluation situations can take place just about anywhere, we just need to seize the moment.