Teaching Philosophy

I believe that being a successful teacher starts with building a relationship with your students.

This provides a foundation of trust that encourages students to ask questions and communicate with their teacher. I think the most effective way students learn is through Piaget’s constructivist approach. This involves students learning through their interaction with the environment and their preexisting knowledge to construct new ideas and understandings. A welcoming environment where students are comfortable sharing their
ideas allows for open discussions and activities that are involved in constructivism. This process often includes a generative design where the activity allows for the generation of more and more possibilities rather than restricting students with one answer. This gives students the opportunity to explore their own ideas, share their thoughts, and make their own conclusions. As a teacher, I want to hear what my students are thinking. The nature of generative activities align with Vygotsky’s theory which highlights social interactions and collaboration in learning. I would incorporate discussions into lesson plans where students can learn from each other and I can learn about my students’ understanding. The teacher’s role is to aid learning by facilitating student discussion and “problematizing” ideas that come up. When problematizing things, the teacher encourages students to think about their reasoning and keeps the conversation going. Additionally, I believe responsive teaching is important in being a successful teacher. Teachers should listen to their students and adjust their lessons accordingly. If the teacher is only focused on adhering to a strict plan or curriculum, active and effective learning cannot take place because the plan becomes more important than where the students are at in their understanding. I believe ongoing formative assessment through listening is the best method to assess what students know. I hope to incorporate these ideas

and practices as a teacher. I believe they are all connected and work together to allow students to think for themselves. Creating a relationship of trust with students promotes a learning environment that involves students learning from each other and sharing their ideas. It puts the focus on what students understand and need from the teacher. By listening to my students’ thoughts and explanations I can adjust the lesson specifically to address questions students still have and become a better teacher.