Teaching Philosophy

                I still struggle with the idea of having a teaching philosophy.  I understand that they are meant to be fluid and ever-changing, but even semi-solidifying one is strange to me.  I do have ideas of how I’d like to teach, but whether or not they’re fit the idea of a philosophy is up in the air. 

            Most importantly, I would really like to foster a safe learning environment for my students.  This list is a fantastic resource to start with – number three is my favourite because of the author’s example.  Name calling is a huge issue in schools today.  Highly offensive slurs, whether they be against someone’s race, sexuality, or ability, are tossed around far too much.  To make your classroom a safe place, you have to inform students that those words are not welcome in your classroom, and there will be repercussions for those who ignore the rules.

            I am big on the idea of putting the learning into the hands of the student.  As a teacher, I can teach until my face turns blue, but, in the end, it is the student that decides whether or not they want to learn the concepts or hand in an assignment.  Just to nip any misconceptions in the bud, I do not mean that if a student doesn’t understand a concept, they aren’t trying, nor am I saying that an assignment should take precedence over every other aspect in a student’s life.  This would be asinine.  What I’m saying is that I cannot force a student to learn anything – I can be only an aid and a guide. 

            Lastly, just to touch upon assessment, I think it should be about choice and balance.  Teachers need to give students a choice while how they demonstrate.  A student can hit the same “Comprehend and Respond” outcome with a discussion as they can with a paper.  However, this becomes a bit cloudy when we realize that students will always pick the option they are most comfortable with.  Moving students out of their comfort zones will get them to buff up on their weaknesses and gain new skills.  Writing skills are just as important as presentations skills.