My Teaching Philosophy

     I feel that teaching is for those who have a true "calling."  I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember.  Being an assistant teacher for many years prepared me greatly and really showed me that teaching is my true "calling."  I feel that I can be that teacher that a student always remembers as being the one that gave them a love for learning.  My teaching philosophy is focused on my professional growth, my planning and preparation, the instructional strategies that I use, and the classroom environment that I provide to my students. 

     As a future teacher, I feel that my professional growth is very important to my future students.  I would like to receive my Master's degree in the near future.  There are always new things that I can learn everyday to enhance my teaching skills.  Learning through workshops and by observing other teachers are great opportunities for my professional growth.  I feel that it is very important for teachers to evaluate themselves.  Children learn in various forms.  What worked last year, may not work this year.  Acquiring feedback from other teachers can also be very important.  A true teacher never stops learning.  Our students don't just learn from us; we can learn from them also.

     Planning and preparation is very important to me also.  I believe that planning and preparation are key components to having a well-organized classroom.  I think that my knowledge of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study is crucial to my future classroom.  Being prepared to modify certain lessons is an important asset that all teachers need to obtain.  Unexpected things can happen so it's always a good idea to have a backup plan. 

     Instructional strategies are an essential part of teaching.  All students learn in different ways.  Teachers must be prepared for any type of learner.  Each lesson I provide should have a variety of instructional techniques.  There are so many diverse backgrounds and learners.  I feel that a "good" teacher remembers this everyday.  I also feel that parental involvement will be a top asset in my classroom.  Parent involvement can be so very important to a student academically.   I also believe that it is the teacher's part to keep parents informed on how their child is doing. 

     I would like for my classroom to be a home away from home for my students.   I want them to feel comfortable when they come to my class.  In my future classroom there will be comfortable places for the students to relax, while reading a book.  I think the room should be filled with books and activities to stimulate their cognitive development.  I feel that collaborative learning is also very important.  I want my students to not only learn from me, but from each other as well. 

     Teachers are an essential part of a child's life.  I want my students to always feel successful.  Students will know that in my classroom there is never a silly question.  I don't want to just answer their questions; I want to help them to discover it for themselves.