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Statement of Teaching and Learning

Since the beginning of time, education has always been a part of our lives. Whether it
was done in an institution or not, it has served as a way to enlighten people. This in turn allows
us to not only advance in life, but also as a society. Indeed, education is an essential factor in our
development as civilized beings. I believe that in order to learn, knowledge has to be constructed
from ones surroundings and experiences. Indeed, learners are not simply empty vessels to be
filled with knowledge, but unique individuals that actively learn by interpreting their
environment. This is what I hope to achieve with my future students, basing my teaching on a
student-centered approach.
As teachers, I believe it is important to meet the various learning style needs that children
have. Indeed, children can learn in a variety of ways, such as visual, verbal, physical, and social,
amongst others. In order to accommodate every student, a teacher should use various different
instructional methods to implement lessons for students. This could be achieved by doing
debates in class, having small group discussions, doing lectures, using physical objects to
demonstrate new material, and more. Making those small but meaningful changes can provide
unique learning experiences, where students can feel more involved and engaged in their
learning.
A teachers role in the classroom is to impart values and knowledge, while also being
mindful of individuality. Indeed, teachers should serve as guides, where education is mostly
student-centered. This is why it is important to be attentive to your students needs. When
creating a lesson plan, for example, an educator should respect that every student learns
differently, and do their best to accommodate those different learning styles that were mentioned
earlier. While this takes dedication and time, I believe it is essential, so that children can feel like

they are being heard and validated in a classroom. Knowledge should not be force-fed to
students. It should be presented in a way that learners will want to gain knowledge for the sake
of it, for their desire to expand their awareness of the world.
My past experiences have ultimately shaped the way I perceive learning, and who I want
to be as a teacher. As a student, I have witnessed good and great teachers. I believe the one thing
that turns an average teacher into a great one, is the effort and passion they put into their
teaching. Indeed, many teachers go above and beyond their responsibilities, simply because they
wish to see their students succeed. This ties in with what I would like to be as a future educator,
because I believe that teachers should help children self-actualize and grow academically,
socially, emotionally and morally. In order to do this, I believe it is important to understand your
students needs, to be able to adapt to them. For example, in a kindergarten classroom, depending
on the energy a child exudes, I would change my demeanor, potentially ranging from very
expressive to really calm. Managing a classroom full of children is not an easy feat, but I believe
it can be done with enthusiasm and patience. These teachers are the ones that we remember, and
that had a great impact on our lives.
My main goal as a teacher is to impart values and knowledge, while also being mindful
of individuality, which will assist a child in becoming a fulfilled member of society. Indeed, I
believe education should serve as a way to promote social, cultural, and moral awareness
amongst students, which will undoubtedly improve their future as civilized members of society.
In order to accomplish these goals, I would create a safe space, where any topic is open to
discussion. Sometimes, situations arise in life, that students do not necessarily know how to
handle, or deal with. I want to create an environment where any of my students can come talk to
me, or his classmates about those situations, without fear of judgement or ridicule. A simple way

to do this would be to implement a circle-time ritual, where students can talk about anything that
made them feel a certain way in their day or week. By implementing these kinds of teaching
ideas, students will already have a preview of what it means to be civilized individuals capable
of living together in harmony and respect.
As awareness of social, cultural, and moral issues are something that I deeply wish for
my students to have, I believe it is important that they gain critical thinking, reflection, and
collaboration skills. To achieve this, I will make use of strategies such as peer-group works and
small group activities, debates, and reflective journals. Peer-group works and small group
activities allow students to improve their communication skills, while also learning to make
decisions that respect others. As for debates, they are essential in ameliorating listening skills,
while also forging their ability to think deeper in order to efficiently defend their opinions.
Lastly, reflective journals are an easy for students to set goals, keep track of them and reflect on
their progress.
In sum, teaching is something that requires patience, dedication and commitment, if one
wishes to provide their students with the best learning experience. My past and current academic
experiences have shown me that a teaching style can affect a students learning experience, either
positively or negatively. For this reason, I believe it is important to understand our students
needs and to be able to adapt to them. Education is of the utmost importance, and as educators,
we are the ones that will be shaping future members of society