Teaching Philosophy

By: Amy LaPonsie

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       Educators must realize that students, even those in early childhood classrooms, come to us with years of experience. These experiences, whether they are good or bad, make the children unique individuals and they should be treated as such in the classroom. Educators must take each child's strengths and weaknesses into consideration when planning activities for the students. Authentic learning will only take place when the children are challenged just enough to learn and be successful.

       Differentiation is a key skill effective educators must possess. Regardless of ability, teachers need to find a way to relate all curricular expectations to the children and their lives. Students must feel they have something "at stake" when it comes to learning. Educational theorist and author James Paul Gee argues that the learner has to care about the material to which he or she has been presented. Gee (2013) states, “Emotion is crucial to thinking and simulating because it helps us manage attention, persist past failure and assess outcomes” (p.45). He continues to explain that students do not “care” about what they are learning because there are no real world implications for their work beyond grades and graduation (p. 51). Relating information to the students will help these students develop a love for learning. Teachers must motivate students to reach their full potentials and recognize their achievements appropriately. Treating our students like individuals will give students the knowledge, confidence and determination to succeed in life after they leave our classrooms.

     Teachers should be well prepared to assess students in all academic areas. Assessment is important as it drives a teacher's next steps when lesson planning. Without proper assessment, teachers will not know her students' level of mastery or weaknesses that her students may have. Assessment can vary from bubble sheets to journaling, from formative to summative, handwritten to computer-based. The important part of assessment is that the teacher is actually using assessment to make pedagogical descisions.

    Another key part of education is the communication between teachers and students, teachers and their students' families, and teachers with teachers. With all of the affordances of the internet, there is immense opportunity for teachers to collaborate and gain new perspective on teaching methods. I have found extreme benefit from having an online group of colleagues off of which to bounce ideas and to gain new ideas. I have found the greatest success in establishing relationships with the families of my students by making the effort right at the start of the school year to meet families or at least speak positively on the phone. We can learn so much valuable information from the families of our students if we just give them some time to tell us! Conference time can be an opportunity to talk, but so much of the talking at conferences is done by teachers, families don't always get an opportunity to share. Students should always have a clear understanding of their teacher's expectations. If we don't communicate effectively with our students, they will not succeed to their highest potential. Clearn, consistent expectations will help a teacher run a smooth sailing classroom and support her students' learning. Communication about progress toward short and long term goals is also important to help students monitor their own learning as well. 

     It is my goal that when students leave my classroom, they feel valued. They feel important. They feel smart. I feel it is my job as an educator to not only teach my students to read and write, but to teach them kindness, compassion and other essential life skills. My experience teaching in an urban, Title I school has taught me that sometimes the students who need the most love, show it in the most unloving ways. A great teacher shows compassion for her students in all situations. A great teacher will consider the needs of all of her students and treat them as important, unique and valued learners. 

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Revised August 2016

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References:

Gee, J. P. (2013). The anti-education era: Creating smarter students through digital learning. New York, NY: St. Martin's Griffin.

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