Statement of Teaching Philosophy Michael Robb, Ph.D. January 2015 Undergraduates in introductory psychology courses are often fascinated by the unique experiments and observations that reveal insights into human nature. It can be challenging, but also more rewarding, to help students understand the theories that try to make sense out of research. However, when students are able to understand psychological and educational theory, they are better able to construct the story of the human experience from birth through adulthood. As a teacher, the value and excitement lies in connecting the research and theory to students’ own lives, and to their professional development. To the extent that my teaching supports content knowledge, but also an …show more content…
In my experience, I have noticed two types of people who work in children’s media: the producers, who create the product, and the educational and psychological advisers, who guide using their academic background. However, there are very few people who do both. In my opinion, this disconnect hurts the product and lessens its impact on the desired audience – children, families, and teachers. My work history has been a journey exploring how to integrate and apply my academic background in ways that positively impact people’s lives, and it is why being an effective teacher means more than just equipping students with information. I believe it is vital to purposefully and thoughtfully connect coursework with practical applications, and equip students with the intellectual tools to foster critical thinking and life-long learning. These tools, rather than specific facts, are increasingly important and valuable in the job market and for later life success, where new information can rapidly alter how we understand scientific data. Many students graduate college without these tools, and I believe these individuals are dramatically limited in their ability to participate in, and with, the dynamic pace of modern society. On the other hand, students with these intellectual resources are prepared to not only participate in, but play
I see students as the next generations’ heroes in so many fields. In my vision, I have to inspire students and prepare them with confidence, knowledge, experience and skills. Which means I encourage, communicate, guide, teach, and assess students in order to enrich their infrastructures.
I believe I have something to offer, that I can make a difference in children’s lives togetherwith a desire to work with children from underprivileged backgrounds. According to Marland (2007, p. 16) the pre-formal phase of teaching is observing teachers in your world eventually plays a vital role in shaping who you will become as a teacher. This applies to myself as I have been a scout leader for over 25 years and there is a parallel between teaching and leading a pack of scouts. I also was a kindergarten assistant for many years at my children’s’ kindergarten and this shaped my desire to complete formal qualifications to become an early childhood teacher.
Cicero said, "What noble employment is more valuable to the state than that of the man who instructs the rising generation?" He was correct in saying this because the young people of today will become the world leaders of tomorrow. The educators that instruct these children are important to this society because they will help shape the lives of these young people.
2) I believe sharing support of ELLs and ensuring an inclusive approach relies greatly on the teachers themselves, specifically the classroom and ELL teacher. Fairbaim & Jones-Vo mention two things that I believe would work these are collaboratively planning lessons and co-teaching. By planning lessons together, both teachers are on the same page, They each understand the respected needs of their students and able to work together to create ways in which lessons are excited to optimize student success. I also think having another person perceptive is beneficial as their teaching experiences may offer you some guidance. In terms of co-teaching, I think this directly benefits the students. We all have different ways of teaching and I think students
Education is defined as the lifelong process of acquiring knowledge, skills, and values through either formal means, such as schooling, or informal means, such as firsthand experiences or vicarious experiences gained through reading books or discussions. Every person that is or wants to be a teacher has his or her own educational philosophy. We all have our own views, methods, and curriculum that we were taught when growing up. A lot of people may have the same teachers in school, but all of them learn different things from that teacher.
My motivation for teaching is setting the goal to make a difference in a students life. The feeling of teaching a child a lesson, and them understanding it, is a rewarding experience for a teacher. I have also been a babysitter for about 6 years, and being around children makes me happy and I love the relationships that I have built with all the kids I have cared for in the past. What really motivated me to go back to school for teaching, was this past summer after having the opportunity to be a camp counselor. While working at that day camp, the relationships and bonds that formed throughout the summer, are ones that I am never going to forget about.
My decision to teach stems from a desire to positively impact student’s lives by sharing my love of learning and showing them that learning can be fun. The teacher education program has taught me that each student is unique and it is my responsibility to meet each student where they are, making learning relevant, meaningful and comprehensible to them on a personal level. My best teaching experiences have been lessons that incorporate hands on learning that allows students to learn and express their creativity. It is my fervent hope that I will be able to secure a teaching position in the Floyd County school system; Rome is my home and I want to give back to the academic community that supported me as I prepared for my college education and my future career as an educator.
I knew that I wanted to be a teacher ever since I was in fifth grade when I found myself pretending to teach my stuffed animals and making my own worksheets and tests at the library just for fun. I have always loved working with children and watching them learn and grow over time. Teaching became a passion of mine because it gave me the unique opportunity of fostering children’s knowledge and skills and inspiring them to reach their personal goals. As a student and as a future teacher, language arts has always been my favorite subject because it is vital and relevant for children to learn and offers students with an artistic and creative outlet that expands their imagination and understanding of the world around them. When I finally become a teacher, I want to serve as a mentor to my students
I want to start with a quote from William Arthur Ward, who said mediocre teachers tell, good teachers explain, superior teachers display, and great teachers inspire (quoted in Cone). Another quote has gotten attributed to many people throughout history: “If you give a man a fish you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime” (quoted in Danielson).
Sydney J. Harris once said “The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.” What that quote means to me is that I have not seen the world and the opportunities it has to show me, so I want be one of those teachers who can look into different states and countries and teach all different types of people. I knew at a young age I wanted to be a teacher. All those times I would teach my dollies, I was happy, energetic and communicated well; that still applies today. In planning for a career in education, I would be able to show many people what I can accomplish, and how all my qualities will make me a great teacher.
I believe that education extends far beyond the classroom walls, and involves many more people than students and teachers. People should be learning wherever they go, and should continue learning long after they’ve graduated from high school or college. Education isn’t something that can be quantified with tests or report cards, but is instead something that people carry with them. It’s a survival pack for life, and some people are better equipped in certain areas than in others. People with a solid education are prepared for nearly anything, as they will be able to provide for their own physical, emotional, and aesthetic needs.
Every teacher has their own philosophy and their style. They believe their philosophy, themselves, and students’ abilities. They must have been inspired by brilliant teachers, in other words, they had favorite teachers when they were students. My favorite teacher was an English teacher at my junior college in Japan. When I was a high school student, I was looking for a junior college to enter after graduating high school. I took the teacher’s trial class. When I first took his class, I was moved by him. The class zipped along, and I really enjoyed it. I thought that I wanted to be a teacher like him. He has studied abroad to Radford University in Virginia in the United States, and he told me how
Every teacher has a different method of teaching. The teachers that I have had in my school career have been no exception. In this way, each teacher has set an example for me, as a future teacher, to follow or not to follow as I see fit. With the examples from my teachers and in continuing my education, I am developing my own method of teaching. I plan to use a combination of teaching methods in my own classroom. My method will be an eclectic approach because I will be using components of more than one philosophy. I will be using essentialism, behaviorism, progressivism, and existentialism.
My philosophy of teaching is deeply rooted in nurturing the potential each and every student in my classes. Providing a creative environment that allows self assessment, growth, group interaction and mentorship are at its very core. Having taught in Higher Education for many years, and as an instructor of Media Arts and Animation, and Game Design, I have had the amazing opportunity to work with some of the brightest and creative young professionals. Teaching has not only broadened my love of art and exploration, but my determination to help students that do not have the confidence to persevere through their education, yet have the passion to follow their dreams.
My teaching philosophy is to create an environment that stimulates learning so that students gain the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to become proficient professionals. While teaching foundational knowledge is important, there are other essential skills and abilities that students must acquire in order to successfully transition from being a student to becoming a physical therapy professional. These skills and abilities include thinking critically as well as interacting and communicating effectively with patients and other health care practitioners. I emphasize to students that it is imperative to realize the impact of developing a therapeutic rapport with patients while providing quality, patient-centered care to optimize the healing process. Therefore, when deciding what to teach, I not only consider the content presented, but also how I can foster discussions with students so that they can apply information based on varying contextual factors. I also attempt to provide students a framework for how to achieve professional excellence, which I aim to model as I fulfill my roles and responsibilities as a teacher and provider of clinical instruction. This framework is rooted in five central tenets: