Educational Philosophy

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     My educational philosophy is a very simple one. My job, as a teacher and educator, is to help each and every one of my students reach their maximum potential. This is a very simple concept, that is very difficult to achieve. Each student is an individual, and will learn in a unique way. Because of this, my approach to teaching must constantly be changing and adapting to be prepared to work with any student that walks into my classroom.  I believe that being an outstanding educator is so much more than mastering content. In fact, I could argue that content could be the least important part of teaching. One of my mentor teachers, Dan Hogan, describe teaching as 10% content, and 90% a combination of being an instructor, councilor, therapist, and role model for students. This description of teachers has really stuck with me and reminds me of my favorite teachers throughout my development in education.

     Students are a diverse group of learners, and some students need more help than others to reach their potential. As a teacher and an educator, it is important that I get to know my students on a personal level, and figure out the ways they learn best as individuals. Some students are visual learners, some are hands on learners, and others can read information and absorbed it. I cannot expect to be a successful educator standing in front of the classroom lecturing all day long. I also cannot expect that each class will be the same as the one that came before it.

     A successful way to help all students, not just in education but in life, is by helping them develop a growth mindset. Looking back on my own life experiences, I can see firsthand how important it is to believe in yourself, and believe you have the ability to be successful, regardless of the obstacles in your path. It is possible that many students will not hear that they can truly accomplish anything they put their minds to. As an educator, it is important that I let each student know that not only are they capable of being successful, but I also believe in their ability to be successful. This also relates to the importance of knowing each student on an individual level. Helping students develop a growth mindset is an important quality for any educator.

     When it comes to presenting content to my students, it is important that I design a lesson that is universally beneficial to all of my students. There is a time and place for lectures, video presentations, hands on activities, and individual and group work. It is equally important that I know the ways my students can present their knowledge and understanding of the content. There are many ways for students to show understanding, and while it is important that students are capable of taking written tests, there is a plethora of other ways to show understanding, along with working on life skills such as teamwork, organization, public speaking, etc.

     The last two qualities an outstanding educator needs are to continue professional development, and to have a strong philosophy on student discipline. Continuing professional development is crucial because there are new technologies and new strategies being developed almost daily it seems, and being up to date with the best teaching tools and strategies will allow a teacher to continue to educate students at a high level. Teachers, like any other profession, need to adapt and change in order to stay currently with the best educational practices, and provide students with a quality education.

     Lastly, having a strong philosophy on student disciple in important so that teachers can maintain a positive teaching environment. This does not mean handing out harsh penalties for small infractions. Each student is different, and not all situations are the same, and each disciplinary action needs to be handled on an individual level. A student who disrupts a classroom once does not deserve the same punishment as a student that is constantly a distraction to the class. Some students will make mistakes, some will try to be disruptive and leave the classroom, and some will not care about the consequences to their actions. Each one of these students needs to be handled in different ways, with the discipline being based off of the individual and the rule broken. Having these qualities will help me become an outstanding educator, and help each one of my students reach their potential. There will always be room to grow and improve as a teacher, and I hope that my students will look back at their experience in my classroom, and say I had a positive impact on their lives. That will be the best accomplishment in my teaching career.