Pedagogical Teaching Philosophy

There have been multiple experiences throughout my life as a student that have
influenced my decision to pursue a career in teaching. Words cannot explain the rush I
receive when my actions can simply put a smile on a childs face. Looking back at my
elementary, middle, and high school experiences, I can only acknowledge three teachers
that have given me hope for a thriving future. These individuals never gave up on me,
and taught me skills that I utilize to this day. Moreover, even though each of these
teachers has manipulated different techniques and methods in their classrooms, they all
have one thing in common a lifelong influence. Over the past few years, my beliefs have
been shaped through accumulated observations within classroom settings. In addition, my
passion for working with children has always been evident throughout my life. Hence,
my teaching philosophy focuses on the childs needs and is continuously developing.
Throughout my experiences in a classroom setting on both ends of the spectrum
as a student and aspiring teacher, I continue to gain various insights and tools that will
allow me to make a difference in a childs life. I think one of the most important concepts
that many teachers struggle with is the idea that all students require different levels of
resources and attention in order to thrive. It is the duty of a teacher to adapt and
understand that there is not one method that will work for all students. Although the core
curriculum is extremely demanding, teachers must adjust their lessons in order to create a
positive result. Additionally, every child has the capability to contribute to society, but
they all express their strengths and weaknesses in different ways. No child can fail or
succeed in school on his own. Teachers can create conditions and circumstances that will
allow students to demonstrate and explore their strengths and capabilities. If educators
create affordances that allow students to acknowledge and recognize their intelligence,
schools across America will flourish. Moreover, rather than distinguishing and
categorizing students based on their differences, teachers should celebrate these
dissimilarities because we can all learn from each other. Furthermore, teaching is the only
profession that has the ability to fabricate a better tomorrow by nurturing young minds
and future generations. Through teaching, I am not only able to devote my life to
something I am truly passionate about, but I am able to give back to the community.
Every child deserves a stimulating education regardless of his or her circumstances.
Over the past 25 years, teacher education has undergone rigorous scrutiny, being
blamed for the failures of society. Learning to teach through observations and collected
experiences is critical so that each and every student has a chance to succeed at life. As a
teacher, balancing the demands between the explicit curriculum and the daily work that
comes with teaching, can often present difficulties and conflicts. Despite the pressure
teachers constantly face to conform to standardized testing, teachers should go beyond
teaching basic skills and inevitably instill high expectations for all students. Moreover,
each wall that encompasses the classroom is blanketed with literacy and carefully
arranged evidence of student work and progress. At the end of the day, teachers are
responsible for inculcating lifelong tools for success in their students; which goes beyond
teaching the explicit curriculum. Using the curriculum responsibly is critical in terms of
making the curriculum relevant to students especially in such a diverse world. In order to
make meaningful connections between what students bring to the classroom and already
know, teachers must become familiar with students cultures and backgrounds.
Moreover, the ability to build trusting relationships with each student reassures
them that you truly care. My classroom instruction will be one based on trust, respect,
pleasure, and encouragement. My students will know that I am not only there for
educational purposes, but also to provide support on a personal level, as a friend and
outlet. I will create a wholesome and loving environment in order to nurture growth
among these children. I have learned that the smallest unit of motivation and
encouragement along with the framing of specific situations allows students to display
their intelligence. This not only produces academic achievement, but also portrays
learning as something pleasurable. The lack of pleasure in our classrooms across the
nation is extremely problematic and inhibits the cycle of learning. Teaching is an ongoing
profession that requires active contributions even when the bell rings at the end of the
day. Schools and classrooms are not static and unchanging; rather they are highly
responsive to what the teachers and staff inside of them choose to do. Furthermore,
when teachers are committed to teaching all students, and when they understand that
through their teaching change can occur, the chance for transformation is great.