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I Will Be More Than An Instructor

Mariah Cummings Teaching Philosophy

Introduction & My Approach to Education


An old proverb states: Tell me and Ill forget; show me and I may remember;
involve me and I learn. As a teacher, it is my desire to equip upcoming
generations with the necessary tools to become citizens that will spark positive
changes in our world. I will be teaching at the elementary level, helping to shape
the minds of each child that enters my classroom starting at this young age.
Through my carefully selected teaching strategies, management techniques,
and approach to teaching as a whole, I hope to instil the desire in my students to
absorb the skills being taught within the classroom, while applying them outside
the classroom.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines learning as gaining of acquiring
knowledge of or skill in something by study, experience, or being taught. I
believe that the purpose of education is not to solely meet the curriculum
requirements, but to enable children to see how these requirements affect their
daily lives as well as their futures. I believe that the purpose of education is to
teach students problem-solving skills, help them foster critical thinking, and
cultivate a sense of responsibility for ones own behaviour. My ultimate goal is to
teach students how to think, rather than what to think.
Teaching Methods
It is not my desire to convey an array of knowledge to my students, but to help
them understand why an academic task is valuable. In order to do this, I will:
Ensure that learning is useful, relevant, and meaningful to my students
needs;
Foster critical thinking in my students by asking them questions and
encourage them to ask themselves questions;
Convey to my students that I have high expectations of them but will
guide them along their learning journey through my instruction, feedback,
and positive reinforcement;
Provide minds-on activities, requiring students to fully engage and take a
course of action through a variety of multiple intelligences and learning
styles;
Provide cross-curricular learning experiences, helping students to make
connections between different subjects and with their lives outside of the
classroom;
Care for my students intellectual and emotional needs treating each
student fairly and providing them with appropriate opportunities; and
Model a willingness/be willing to learn from my students, creating a
mutual element of trust and respect in the classroom.
Classroom Management
The most effective teaching techniques cannot be put into place without
appropriate classroom management. As a teacher, I realize that the classroom
environment plays a crucial role in students learning. I will:

Make sure that the physical environment of my classroom is appealing


and manageable. I will display learning posters and students work on the
walls and make sure that students desks are arranged appropriately for
what is being taught;
Make sure that all students can see from where they are sitting, and that
any needed supplies is easily accessible to students;
Provide my students with bell work every day as they enter the
classroom, getting them engaged in learning before officially beginning
the lesson;
Set classroom norms and procedures the first day of classes, with the help
of my students;
Be consistent with these norms and procedures, always holding my
students responsible to maintaining them; and
Treat each of my students with respect in order to get respect in return.

Parent/Community Involvement
In order to expect my students to apply what they are learning outside of the
classroom, I will need to involve outside sources in our learning community. To
do this, I will:
Make a point to contact parents before the school year begins, creating a
positive relationship with them;
Regularly send home newsletters to parents, explaining what is going on
in the classroom;
Not only contact parents when their child is misbehaving, but will also
send home notes/make phone calls of appraisal of their child;
Invite parents to share their cultural background with the class (if
applicable);
Provide an open invitation for parents to volunteer in the classroom. This
could include tutoring, reading with children, building something for the
classroom, etc.;
Involve our community by having students complete perform good deeds
in the community (connecting with the curriculum), interviewing someone
from another religion/culture, etc.
Professional development
I realize that as a teacher, I hold an important responsibility in my community. I
will:
Model appropriate behaviour as determined by my community both in and
outside of the classroom serving as a mentor at all times.
Show my colleagues respect working collaboratively with them and
seeking advice from those with more extensive experience.
Always be prepared for my classes, planning my lessons ahead of time.
Keep up-to-date with new teaching strategies and update my portfolio
regularly to keep track of my own experiences.
Conclusion
My philosophy has been shaped by my experiences working with children and
youth in a camp and church setting, as well as tutoring at the university level. In

addition to this, my philosophy has been further shaped through the past three
years of participating in Crandall Universitys Education Program. Through this
extensive program, I have not only had the privilege of participating in various
education courses, but have spent these past years having my mind shaped to
think critically as a preservice teacher. Through these experiences, I have
learned that I do not want to simply help my students meet the curriculum
outcomes. I will show my students how these outcomes can be used outside of
the classroom. I will care for my students intellectual and emotional needs,
providing a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. I will be more than a
teacher.

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