Teaching philosophy

My philosophy of teaching is to be not just an educator but also and

maybe more importantly a mentor and a motivator. I believe as a
mentor, I have the ability to help a student define themselves as
smart and capable. Through positive interactions I can build a
students confidence in themselves as learners and as members of a
community. I have spent several years working with at-risk students
at the high school level who continually told me they werent smart
or that they didnt get math or science and just never would. I feel
sad for their younger self that decided they did not understand and
it was their fault for not being smart enough. That label stayed with
them and in some way will define them for the rest of their lives.
Conversely, if I build my students confidence, I can help them define
themselves as smart and capable.
Students confidence in their abilities doesnt just come from the
teacher. Children are constantly setting themselves up for
comparison with their peers. As an educator I can help facilitate
that in the classroom by thoughtful grouping of students. Pairing
stronger students with weaker students, in a particular subject area,
will encourage the stronger students to vocalize their methods to
the weaker students helping them to solidify their own knowledge
and helping the weaker students get another perspective of the
problem. Not only will these students be learning the given
material, but they will also be building relationships and practicing
good communication skills.
As a teacher I will be there to monitor group discussions ensuring
they are accurate and including all the students. I will also be sure to
promote a positive learning environment where all students feel
confident enough to ask questions or answer questions without fear
of reticule. I can also learn from the students as I observe the ways
in which they communicate the material to each other. Using these
observations, in a self-reflective manner, I will modify the curriculum
in the future to make those connections with the material easier for
the students and as a result bettering my teaching. Teaching is not
a static profession. I will be constantly adapting to the needs of my
students. In the words of William Arthur Ward, The mediocre
teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher
demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.