Running head: PERSONAL TEACHING PHILOSOPHY 1

Personal Teaching Philosophy

Kira Lynn Madison

Regent University
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When I first started in the education program, my teaching philosophy was somewhat

non-existent. I only believed that all children deserved to be taught; it was simple and to the

point. Over time, my philosophy grew into something very similar; all children have the right to

education. Now, while I am in my student teaching and learning how I want to have my class

one day, my philosophy has changed as well. I believe that all children have the right to a proper

and loving education.

My philosophy has a variety of parts that must work together to create a proper

education. The first part is that the educator must understand the content knowledge that is being

presented. The educator must know what is needed to be taught, and if they do not, they must

have the willingness to learn how to interpret the material. Students deserve a teacher that not

only understands the content knowledge but can relate it to real-world applications as well. I

believe that students deserve a teacher who will teach, assess, and explain all the information that

is necessary to prepare them for their tests and will have a gateway to higher thinking. My

personal goal in this is that I continue to strive and learn the content knowledge that I will be

teaching to my students. I will continue to strive for relating my teaching to real-world

applications.

My second part is that the educator must have hope in their students. I believe that

students live off the energy that not only the classmates give, but the teacher as well. My

students deserve a teacher who will provide them with hope in all that they do. A teacher is

around their students so much that they become a constant adult in their life. Our students need

to know that we are there for them and wanting the best for them. Having hope in your students

is completely different than loving your students. I want my students to know that I am rooting

for them throughout all of their life. My students know when they come into my classroom that I
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want them to try their hardest on whatever that they do, and that is all I ask of them. I believe

that my students can achieve the world and more if they apply themselves. I want my students to

feel confident in what they do in and out of the classroom. One of my main goals to make sure

that I show hope to my students is to give extra praise to the school. I believe that I provide a

substantial amount of appreciation to my students, but I think that I could provide even more.

When I give my students praise, I am raising their confidence and showing them that I believe in

them throughout their journey.

I believe that I cannot teach without getting to know my students and their individual

needs. Relationships are essential in the classroom. If I do not understand how my students

learn and what their interests are, I am not going to be able to reach them in the way that they

deserve. I want to know what my students like in school, how they learn best, and how they

want to learn. I believe that knowing their likes and dislikes is also essential in building

relationships. Relating to my students is very important to me, as well as being empathetic to

their individual needs. Not only is it sufficient to know your students, having that special bond

with them all allows for a warm and loving classroom climate. I love eating lunch with my

students, getting to know them during morning meeting, having discussions with them in class,

and more. My personal goal is to develop those personal relationships even more throughout my

teaching career. I want to get to know the parents of my students well to understand what I can

do for their child in school.

Lastly, the most critical part of my teaching philosophy is that my students deserve a

teacher who will love them through and through. Sometimes, the only love that my students

receive is the love that I give them, and why would I neglect to provide them with the respect

they deserve. I show my appreciation for students by being a listening ear. On days that I think
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that there is no way I could do it, my students are the ones that change that perspective. My

students love me with all that they have; I would be wrong not to give them the same in return.

My personal goal is to show my students more love. In those times where they might be off-

topic or having a bad day themselves, I need to give them all my love and strength that I can. I

need to show them that I love them more by my actions and by my words.

I would not be able to understand the content knowledge, hope, the desire to build a

relationship, or love for my students without the grace of God. God has shown me time and time

again, His continual and everlasting love. My faith impacts my teaching philosophy by going

through experiences. I have gone through many different stages in my life, and I believe that my

students could also experience those stages as well. I want to take what I have learned through

life and help me students with the journey of theirs. I would not be here today without God, and

His love shown to me. I want my students to know who God is through the words that I say and

the actions that I use. I want my classroom to be a representation of the Kingdom of God

through and through.