"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
My Teaching Philosophy
Although academics are often considered to be the central focus of schooling, the purpose of education stems far beyond the basic learning of facts and figures. As a teacher, I believe that effective education must take into consideration students’ full development including interpersonal skills, critical thinking skills and morality. In order to achieve this type of balanced education, teachers must incorporate interactive teaching methods and foster a positive classroom environment that encourages student participation.
With the advent of the digital age, students have access to more information than was ever before possible. As a result, students need to develop the necessary skills to be able to interpret, analyze, synthesize and critically evaluate the wealth of information available to them. To help students develop these skills, I believe that teachers must give students the chance share their thoughts, participate in classroom discussion, formulate hypotheses and explore their own ideas as it allows students to actively engage in the learning process. By allowing them the opportunity to express and explore their own ideas, I believe students develop the essential skills they need to become life-long learners.
Collaboration is another way in which learning can be made more interactive for students. By working together in groups, students are able to share ideas and problem solve together to improve understanding. As each student has their own unique strengths and talents, providing students with the opportunity to learn from one another can often result in a deeper understanding than would not be possible if students simply worked independently.
This interactive approach to teaching is especially important for second language learners as authentic oral expression is an important aspect of language development. By creating a demand for spontaneous conversation, teachers are able to help accelerate language development as it creates a need for the student. The most important aspect, however, is that the communication be as authentic as possible as it allows for language to develop in a context that is meaningful for the learner. By using the second language to communicate thoughts, feelings and ideas that would normally be discussed in the maternal language, second language learners are more easily able to associate these words with the appropriate meaning and context.
In addition to focusing on cognitive development, I believe that teachers have a responsibility to makes sure their students are engaged and motivated to learn. Whenever possible, I believe that students should be given the option to choose between a variety of differentiated activities. Not only does this allow for students to be creative and choose an activity that is meaningful for them, but it also allows for differentiation to accommodate different learning styles in the classroom. Looking back on my own personal experience as a learner, the projects and assignments I remember most fondly are those that allowed me to be creative and express my personality.
The final component of establishing an interactive classroom involves creating a positive learning environment in which students feel comfortable expressing themselves and sharing their ideas. A collaborative approach to classroom management involves students in every possible aspect of classroom management including the establishment of classroom rules and discussions to find solutions to issues and conflicts. By allowing students to participate in deciding how the classroom is run, I believe that students become more engaged in the classroom and develop important problem-solving skills. Furthermore, participation allows students to feel as though they are invested in a classroom community that they contributed to building.
In conclusion, every student is a unique individual with their own thoughts, ideas, talents and challenges. As teachers, I believe it is our responsibility to create a learning environment that allows every student to be curious, creative and confident. In doing so, we can empower students to become active participants and take responsibility for their own learning. As a result, students can develop the necessary skills, independence and passion they need to become life-long learners.
With the advent of the digital age, students have access to more information than was ever before possible. As a result, students need to develop the necessary skills to be able to interpret, analyze, synthesize and critically evaluate the wealth of information available to them. To help students develop these skills, I believe that teachers must give students the chance share their thoughts, participate in classroom discussion, formulate hypotheses and explore their own ideas as it allows students to actively engage in the learning process. By allowing them the opportunity to express and explore their own ideas, I believe students develop the essential skills they need to become life-long learners.
Collaboration is another way in which learning can be made more interactive for students. By working together in groups, students are able to share ideas and problem solve together to improve understanding. As each student has their own unique strengths and talents, providing students with the opportunity to learn from one another can often result in a deeper understanding than would not be possible if students simply worked independently.
This interactive approach to teaching is especially important for second language learners as authentic oral expression is an important aspect of language development. By creating a demand for spontaneous conversation, teachers are able to help accelerate language development as it creates a need for the student. The most important aspect, however, is that the communication be as authentic as possible as it allows for language to develop in a context that is meaningful for the learner. By using the second language to communicate thoughts, feelings and ideas that would normally be discussed in the maternal language, second language learners are more easily able to associate these words with the appropriate meaning and context.
In addition to focusing on cognitive development, I believe that teachers have a responsibility to makes sure their students are engaged and motivated to learn. Whenever possible, I believe that students should be given the option to choose between a variety of differentiated activities. Not only does this allow for students to be creative and choose an activity that is meaningful for them, but it also allows for differentiation to accommodate different learning styles in the classroom. Looking back on my own personal experience as a learner, the projects and assignments I remember most fondly are those that allowed me to be creative and express my personality.
The final component of establishing an interactive classroom involves creating a positive learning environment in which students feel comfortable expressing themselves and sharing their ideas. A collaborative approach to classroom management involves students in every possible aspect of classroom management including the establishment of classroom rules and discussions to find solutions to issues and conflicts. By allowing students to participate in deciding how the classroom is run, I believe that students become more engaged in the classroom and develop important problem-solving skills. Furthermore, participation allows students to feel as though they are invested in a classroom community that they contributed to building.
In conclusion, every student is a unique individual with their own thoughts, ideas, talents and challenges. As teachers, I believe it is our responsibility to create a learning environment that allows every student to be curious, creative and confident. In doing so, we can empower students to become active participants and take responsibility for their own learning. As a result, students can develop the necessary skills, independence and passion they need to become life-long learners.
To read the extended version of my Teaching Philosophy, complete with academic references, please click here.