Imani Simmons

January 31, 2016

ISTC 301.181
Wood
Personal Philosophy
A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.Brad Henry. As a future educator, I plan to create change and inspire my students to succeed and
be the best individual and student that they can be. I knew that I wanted to be a teacher when I
asked for an overhead projector for my eleventh birthday, but my true inspiration on why I chose
to pursue a career in teaching is because of the phenomenal teachers that I have experienced
throughout my education. My high school math teacher, Dr. VanNetta, gave me my first true
glimpse of what it means to be a phenomenal teacher. She consistently went above and beyond to
make her students feel comfortable by creating an inclusive environment in her classroom. I was
inspired the most by her determination to see her students succeed inside and out of the
classroom, as she helped me to grow as a student and as an individual. She also continued to
uplift me and motivate me to pursue my dreams and aspirations despite any obstacles and
challenges that I may face. Dr. VanNetta is a phenomenal woman, educator, and a role model
and a true example of the outstanding educator that I aspire to be.
I am currently majoring in Middle School Education with a track in English and Social
Studies. I chose to pursue middle school teaching, as middle school years are the times that
students experience the most change. Middle school students are in the phase of learning who
they are and they are full of curiosity. As a middle school teacher, I hope to create a dynamic and
comfortable environment for students and also have an impact on them during the changes and

transitions that they may face. I chose to pursue teaching English and Social Studies because
they are not only my two favorite subjects, but I believe that it is important for students to learn
about various disciplines within social studies, such as history, government, and economics, in
order to have an understanding about the past, how society and the world came to be, and to
develop good judgment, a sense of citizenship, and critical thinking skills. English is another
subject that I find highly valuable and important for students, as it provides them with writing,
oral, and critical thinking skills that they will need in the future.
Technology plays a role in my learning, as I have learned how to use the internet and
various electronic tools to conduct research, which enhances my research and critical literacy
skills. Also, the use of Smart Boards plays a role in my education as I am a visual learner, so the
ability for teachers and professors to draw and demonstrate concepts directly on the Smart Board
makes it easier for me to grasp concepts. Additionally, being a student with a vision impairment,
technology has played a significant role in my learning. I have always had the challenge of not
being able to fully see class material in books or on chalkboard, but with the current technology,
such as the CCTV, which allows me to enlarge tests and printouts, it is less difficult for me to
access classroom material. Also, the use of Web-Ex in classes allows me to access classroom
materials, such as white boars, videos, and power points, easily through my computer. I imagine
integrating technology into my teaching by accommodating the various learning styles of
students, through multimedia presentations, student or class blogs, interactive whiteboards,
online review games, websites for students, and offer e-books to students and various tools to
also accommodate students with disabilities. Furthermore, I believe that technology should play
a role in students learning to accommodate their various learning styles and individual needs,
provide them with an active learning experience, and provide them with the skills that they will

need in the future and in their careers. Technology also promotes student-centered learning,
personal, and professional and academic development. Todays society is also very technology
and social media driven, therefore using technology in the classroom may increase the focus of
students and get them to be active and engaged in classroom instruction. With the use of
technology, students will be challenged and more active in classroom instruction, which will
provide them with the skills needed to be successful in the workplace and in their future.