Educational Philosophy to Become an Impact Teacher

As I get set to embark on the beginning of my teaching career, I have given significant
thought to the teacher that I will be. Because I often settle for nothing but the best, that is how I
will approach my teaching career. I have said from day one that my ultimate goal is to make an
impact on the students I teach. In order to become an impact teacher, I must use effective
teaching practices. Students learn only when the teacher has an appreciable effect on a students
life (Wong & Wong, 2001). In order to become an impact teacher, I will personify the following
characteristics:

Professionalism I will handle myself in a professional manner in all aspects of my

teaching. This goes beyond my actions and encompasses my appearance, as well.
Dedication I will be dedicated to my craft, my teammates, and, most importantly, my
students. I will demonstrate my dedication to my students by going above and beyond
the call of duty. If a student asks me a question to which I do not have an answer, I will
go home that night and find the answer.
Open-mindedness I will maintain an open mind throughout my teaching career. This
means that I will be willing to make mistakes and embrace those mistakes. I will also
take into consideration that my students beliefs and consider that their belief may be
more powerful than mine.
Adaptability/Flexibility I will demonstrate my ability to adapt to changing
environments/procedures by making any necessary changes in my lessons/curriculum
that may be asked of me. I will remain flexible in my classroom as far as my students are
concerned. If there is a lesson or material that some students are struggling with, I will
adjust my teaching techniques to attempt to reach those students in a different manner
(Nystrom, 2014).
Preparedness I will never walk into a classroom unprepared. I will ensure that I have
a strong grasp on my lessons for that day. I expect my students to be prepared each day,
so I will model my expectations through my preparedness on a daily basis.
Providing a Safe Environment I will ensure that my students feel safe and
comfortable when they are in my classroom. They will feel confident in themselves and
be willing to stay true to who they are. All students in my classroom will treat one
another with respect.
Positive Attitude I will maintain a positive attitude with my students to help build and
maintain my relationships with them.
Proactive with Parents Parent involvement is paramount in the success of their
children. As such, I will be proactive in building relationships with the parents to ensure
they understand my expectations of the students. I will help them understand the
materials we will be going over so that they can help the students at home. I will not call
a parent with negative feedback on a student until I have reached out to them several
times with positive feedback (Nystrom, 2014).
Accessibility I will always ensure that I am accessible to my students, as well as to
their parents. All students and parents will be provided with my email address so that
they can contact me at any time with questions, concerns, or comments.

By staying true to my beliefs and values, as well as incorporating the aforementioned

characteristics into my teaching, I will ensure that I have a long, successful career in teaching.
Instilling the above characteristics will help me reach my ultimate goal of becoming an impact
teacher: the ultimate pinnacle in the teaching profession.

References
Nystrom, J. T. (2014). Class Discussion: Adapting Instruction in Diverse Classrooms. July 1,
2014 Discussion.
Nystrom, J. T. (2014). Class Discussion: Developmental Theory & Experiential Growth. June 5,
2014 Discussion.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (2001). The First Days of School: How to be an Effective Teacher.
(p. 6). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.