educator philosophy
“We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled, but as candles to be lit.”
— Robert H. Schaffer
I believe that teaching is a field of inquiry and that teachers at every level should be dedicated to the scholarship of the field. Through hands-on experience and research we can improve the quality of teaching and, therefore, learning.
I believe that an effective teacher must have a firm understanding of the subject matter being taught, as well as an appropriate way to engage the learners according to their development level. Teachers can maximize the time allowed for learning by making proper selections and knowing how to structure and organize their materials. A teacher must know what to teach as well as what is the best way to teach it. Generally, I believe the role of a teacher is to be a facilitator; teachers should enable students to become responsible for their own learning. Students learn in different ways, and I am committed to including all students in the learning process. An effective teacher must be able to recognize each student’s learning method, and then take the appropriate steps to enhance and develop that method.
A teacher is responsible for building a relationship with students. Teachers must respect students; we must believe that all students are capable, that students have something to contribute, and that students may bring new insights to a subject or raise questions about a subject that have not yet been considered. Teachers must be committed to learner success for we are responsible for making our subject matter accessible to those who do not yet know it.
Teachers need to be concerned with maintaining an environment conducive to learning. There are times when they must use forms of classroom discipline in order for classroom time to remain interesting and productive. I believe that discipline needs to come in stages, and that it should be firm, fair and consistent.
I believe that teaching is a privilege, and within this privilege a great responsibility. I am dedicated to the development of my own teaching skills, as well as to the success and positive development of all my student learners.