Personal Teaching Philosophy 2012

This is a paper I wrote in Foundations of Education in November 2012.  It is my personal teaching philosophy.

Katie Golding

11/14/12

EDLF 201 | Carlston

Personal Philosophy Paper

            As a public school teacher, it is critical to reach out to those students that are less fortunate socially, intellectually, or circumstantially.  The role of public schools is to make education accessible to all children, no matter their background.   One way to bring this about is to flatten the hierarchy in the classroom.  Each child should feel as if they are successful.  They should be congratulated on what they did well and teachers should take notice of individual improvement.  When we enable students to feel as if they’re capable, they will feel as if they can fulfill the “American Dream”.  Hopefully, this will instill in them the drive to be great in the future.
            This takes me to my next role as a public school teacher; we must prepare students for their futures.   As we teach, we should promote democracy in the classroom.  Self-governance, social abilities, knowledge, and teaching them to think creatively and critically will lead them to shape society positively.  We must teach them values of character, conduct, and citizenship, so when they leave our classrooms, they not only leave intellectually enlightened but they leave as an influence for good in the workforce.  Those we teach are the key to the futures.  While we are able to have an influence on them, we must be a source of good in their lives.    As we make this education accessible to all, we will begin to eliminate poverty, to break out of the awful cycle and show children what they are fully capable of.
            Another aspect I want to give life to as a public school teacher is collaboration.    There should be many opportunities presented so that students may share their ideas with the other students.    When they get recognition from their peers, their confidence will grow.   This collaboration will help flatten the hierarchy.   They will thrive from sharing ideas and gaining various insights.   

There should also be collaboration between teacher and students.  With this one-on-one collaboration, the teacher will be able to assess the needs of the student.  That way, we may be able to cater our teaching style to the student’s needs.    As a teacher, we will also gain many wonderful insights from our students as we give them the chance to express their ideas and thoughts on a subject.  We will be able to have active comprehensive discussions.  The student will benefit from the teacher’s guiding questions and answers.  They will be led to discover and learn. 

As a teacher in the public school, we should have an open door policy.  We should be open to our colleagues’ ideas as well.  We have each other as the greatest help.   Through collaboration with other teachers we will be able to thrive in an open and helping community in our public schools.  When we build this community in our schools, the children will benefit from their openness with one another and the insights they gain from one another.  

We must allow ourselves to be vulnerable.   Each year, we will have a new set of children.  Each time, they will be different from the group before.  There will be different needs, wants, disciplines, backgrounds, etc.  We have to be sensitive to the needs of those students.   Even on a day to day basis, their needs will change.  As we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we will be open to change our lesson plan when necessary.   When we see individuals struggling, we must reach out to them.  If we can make the lesson apply to our students’ lives, they will appreciate it and remember the lesson much more when we make it applicable to them.  We must ask questions that inspire discussion.  This will put the teacher on his/her feet, which can be frightening, but we must take that step of faith because it will benefit our students.   Having open discussions, with critical thinking and application makes us vulnerable, but our students will thrive.  This will help in our desire to be life-long learners.  It will also teach our students how to be life-long learners as they benefit our society. 

I want it to be a place where children feel safe:  Safe to explore, safe to take risks, safe to ask questions, safe to make a mistake, and safe to learn.  When they ask questions, I will be listening and ready to answer them.  When they make mistakes, I will lovingly help them fix it.  When they learn something, we will celebrate it.

Children are going to test your patience, especially that one class clown that never seems to settle down.  So I will begin developing that patience now.  When a situation comes up that disciplinary action must take place, it will be done in such way that the kids know what I expect, that they know their behavior, not character, must change, and most importantly, that I love them.

I want to share with the children the light of Christ and emanate his ways of leadership and teaching.  If we look at the Savior’s example, we can see how much he loves us.  As a leader, he gave us every opportunity to choose the person we want to become.  He gave us agency.  There should be agency given to the children so that the students may learn how to choose wisely and so that their free expression is not stifled.  At times, he disciplines us.  We feel his disappointment and dissatisfaction but not because he no longer loves us.  It is because he loves us that he’s disappointed and that love is what makes us want to become a better person.   His hand is always “stretched forth” that we may grab it at any time in need.   As a classroom leader, we should love the precious souls that are in our keeping.   They may need chastening at times but they should always know how much we love and care for them.  We should always be there with an outstretched hand for those who need a little more help, a little more time, a little more love.

If we are Christ-like and that is reflected in our countenance and acts, children will learn those attributes by example.  We will not be able to directly link gospel truths into our teaching but by becoming the person He wants us to become, His light will radiate from our eyes.  As we become true followers of Christ, people will be unable to ignore the light that shines within us.   Children will be able to see that light and because of their innocence, they will know where it comes from.   That is so important: To have each child know they’re loved, not just by you but loved by our Heavenly Father.

            The most important education I have received in my life is my musical training.  Music is one of the things I hold most dear.  Art uplifts and edifies the soul.  I believe that all children should have access to a holistic learning approach: math, science, writing, music, art, physical education.   These should never be treated as a waste of time.  They are important in educating the whole learner.  They benefit one another: when you strengthen one intelligence, the other becomes stronger.   They develop certain attributes you cannot gain sitting at a desk memorizing times tables.  If I could make it happen, I would have every teacher be required to sing with their children every day, multiple times a day.  Children would greatly benefit from music flowing through their heads. 

            As a public school teacher or mom, I will always fight for the liberal arts to be an important part of the school life.  Education should provide opportunities to experience and explore.  We learn from our experiences.  If they’re stuck listening to a teacher lecture, how are they to ever truly learn anything?  When children are able to go to their liberal arts classes, they are able to explore many other aspects of life.  Many accounts will also testify, that great joy comes from the arts, whether you’re playing basketball or a Liszt Piano Sonata.    I believe children should be given opportunities to find what makes them happy.  If we do not offer liberal arts in the public school, there are many children who would miss out on the opportunity to learn these abilities because of economic circumstances.  Their parents don’t have the money to put them in expensive music classes or on sports teams.    As we provide public education, we must always remember these too. 

            As a music teacher, I want to provide opportunities for children to have experiences that lead them to learning intellectual, musical, and life skills.  When they come into the classroom, I want the children to be able to experiment on different instruments and simply create music on their own.  Once class starts, I want the children to be enjoying and loving the music the same way it touched my heart when I was young.  I want there to be movement, dance, in my classroom.  By building respect and trust with the students, they won’t be afraid to express themselves in movement.

            These are my philosophies.  In general, I want public education to be for every child.  They should receive the best and most holistic education we can provide them with.  We must have a nurturing, open environment in which students will be able to thrive.  I want to be a teacher that is vulnerable and that can reach her students individually and have an influence in their lives for the better.