Philosophy of Education

Nick Koberstein I was first convinced that I was mathematical when peers in my math courses would ask me to explain different concepts to them that they were not fully understanding during class. It was this experience and seeing their faces as something finally clicked that made me realize my potential to be a mathematics teacher. Math has been my favorite subject since third grade when we started learning about multiplication. I feel ecstatic when I finally solve a difficult problem or when I can successfully master a subject matter. As a math teacher, I want to share this experience with others and show maths authentic significance in the real world. Math is essential in every career path in which a student might be interested and is thus the most vital of academic subjects. Even if a student does not plan on having a career directly related to math, or even studying it in college, working with mathematics teaches students how to problem solve, a concept used in all aspects of life. It is my hope to make an impact on my students lives. I want to engage all my students, even those who believe they are not mathematical. I will provide all students with a solid foundation in math to guarantee their success in whatever field they will pursue in adulthood. The way mathematics is taught can have influence how students learn and their view on the importance of the topics. As the teacher, I will promote discourse in my classroom and encourage students to show their work to the class in hopes to engage all my students. I believe that students should not play a passive role in the classroom but should instead be an active participant in discussions, asking questions and offering ideas. Students will be given opportunities to work in groups to express their opinions and communicate with each other. I will create an environment where students feel safe to volunteer their ideas even if they are wrong. The most challenging part about teaching in todays world is being able to reach all students in the classroom. In the diverse and dynamic society that we live in, it is vital that educators are aware of the many different backgrounds and cultures of their students. I believe that we should not claim to be color-blind to this diversity. I will not minimize differences or act as if everyone is the same. Instead, I will celebrate and embrace these differences because they define who we are at our core. I will work to get to know all my students and make connections with them. These connections will allow me to practice culturally relevant teaching and teaching with equity. Students are also diverse in their skill levels and abilities. To address this wide range of skills in my classroom, I will start off my lessons by doing group warm ups which will give everyone an opportunity to remember what we did in previous classes and apply it to the problem. By placing students in groups with similar abilities, highly skilled students can continue on with extensions after completing the material. This also allows me to provide more attention to a group that has students who are struggling with the material. Groups can also contain a mixture of skill levels where students are able to help their neighbors, allowing everyone a chance to either get individual help from a classmate or practice communicating their reasoning and mathematical knowledge to other students.

Most secondary students learn best by using hands on activities that make the mathematics a tangible concept. Using technology in the classroom will provide students with another dimension on learning mathematics. I will use software such as GeoGebra to allow students to visualize and manipulate different problems and help them develop a better understanding of the concepts. Other forms of technology that I consider to be helpful in the classroom are graphing calculators, motion detectors, i-Clickers, and SMARTboards. I am a strong believer in community and parent involvement. I will call home at the beginning of the year to introduce myself to the parents and guardians of my students and encourage them to communicate with me throughout the year. Instead of only calling home when students are misbehaving, calls should also be made to report on good behavior and work ethic. Developing this relationship with family members will help my students reach their fullest potential in my classroom. Attending after school and community events will help me relate to my students and show that I care about the lives of my students outside of the school day. I believe that self-reflection is a necessity for every teacher. Educators should reflect on their past lessons, check on student understanding, and speak with their colleagues about advice for continuing to improve on their teaching ability. The most important thing that I hope to remember as an educator is that I will always be a learner. I will continuously be learning from my students, my colleagues and my experiences inside and outside the classroom.