My Philosophy of Teaching

I have been writing, editing, and revising this for awhile now. My philosophy of teaching was written so I have a reminder every day of my purpose and path as an educator.

         Knowledge is a lifelong process. Observations, interactions, and assessments of daily encounters guide us through a constant state of learning. Through interactions with other people, individuals learn about their immediate surroundings and the world beyond. Discovery occurs with acceptance or rejection of common held beliefs. Education provides a challenging and inspiring learning environment in which children and adults alike can find commonality on an ever-changing planet.

One-way for children to understand and accept their place in their community and the world is to have a pupil-centered classroom. Students learn best when they can rely upon and trust one another as well as their teacher. Knowledge seekers need to find out what is true for them individually instead of conforming to what may be true for others. It is a teachers’ job to guide students to understanding. They should provide familiarization and create a web of unearthing and cohesion. Only then can true learning occur.

My philosophy as an educator is to provide challenging learning experiences that promote strong academic development, critical thinking skills, and personal responsibility, while ensuring the opportunity to explore strengths and develop individual creativity. Enlightenment is the seed of freedom. Freedom comes from knowledge.The very best teaching practices include patience, a variety of informational techniques and helping students learn to the best of their ability. Instructors can use lesson plans, and follow academic standards, but they need to be flexible. The use of technology can allow for more student interaction and less lecturing. A variety of hands-on activities as well as readings and visual aids are used to incorporate all students’ learning abilities.

By evaluating truth through the education process we come to find our place in the world. Instructors can create a safe and effective learning environment by promoting respect, individuality, and self-discipline. A challenge for educators is to find a balance between classroom management and nurturing self-expression. Providing situations that harvest students’ intellectual and societal development promotes strong academic skills, critical thinking, and personal responsibility.