Teaching Philosophy – Resource sheet

You might find the following sources useful in constructing your own philosophy of teaching:

1. How to
a. University of Toronto - Tip Sheet http://www.teaching.utoronto.ca/topics/documenting-
teaching/s-t-p.htm
b. University of Minnesota – Online Tutorial:
http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/tutorials/philosophy/
c. Teacher Portfolio and Preparation Series (TiPPS) – Resources, Examples, How-tos,
Guidelines: http://nflrc.hawaii.edu/tipps/?page_id=53
d. Iowa State University – Information, Videos and Examples:
http://www.celt.iastate.edu/teaching-resources/document-your-teaching/teaching-
philosophy/
e. Washington University in St. Louis – Helpful information and References:
http://teachingcenter.wustl.edu/About/ProgramsforGraduateStudentsandPostdocs/resour
ces/Pages/Writing-a-Teaching-Philosophy-Statement.aspx
f. Iowa State University – Helpful hints, How-tos, and Videos
http://www.celt.iastate.edu/teaching/philosophy.html
g. Princeton University - http://www.princeton.edu/mcgraw/library/for-grad-
students/teaching-statement/

2. Examples
a. Shawn Ford (ESL teacher): http://www2.hawaii.edu/~sford/philosophy/
b. Virginia Clinton (ESL teacher): http://v_clinton.tripod.com/teach/id5.html
c. Iryna Butsenko (ESL teacher): https://sites.google.com/site/irynabutsenko/home/the-
teacher-s-portfolio => this is part of a portfolio this teacher prepared (might give you
ideas)
d. Karen Motyka (EFL teacher):
https://blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/klm225/teaching-philosophy/ => also part of a
portfolio
e. Western:
http://www.uwo.ca/tsc/resources/selected_teaching_topics/teaching_dossiers/guide_to_c
onstructing/teaching_philosophy_examples.html
f. Yale: http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool/teaching/forms/sampleteachingstatements.pdf
g. Carolyn Forché (Professor of English):
http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/forche/statement.html
h. Dr Ciara O’Farrell’s Examples for various fields:
http://www.qu.edu.qa/offices/ofid/documents/Course_portfolio/Sample_Teaching_Philo
sophies.pdf

3. Employability skills demanded by the Canadian workplace

a. About employability skills: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/topics/education/learning-
 tools/employability-skills.aspx
b. Employability skills questionnaire online:
https://www.jobsetc.gc.ca/toolbox/checklists/employability.jsp?lang=e
 Some of our practicum host teachers have used these tools to help their ESL
students -- who include professors, physicians, engineers and scientists working
in the Canadian marketplace -- identify the "soft skills" they need to work
effectively within a team, satisfy expectations, manage time, and work
effectively.
Please note that these are just some of the resources available out there – I have found these most
informative and useful. If you find some others that you deem useful, I would appreciate it greatly if
you would share them with me and your peers. Thanks in advance, Eva.