However, i found it a very helpful and reflective experience to write what i believe about. I believe my number one role, as an educator, is to love my students. Teaching philosophy elementary school teacher portfolio. The difference in the practical approach to teaching philosophy can mean the difference between an engaging class and an excruciating one. Teaching portfolios teaching and learning university. Whats best is being able to then place that book in a student s hands and watch them devour it.
Being a second year teacher, i am still working on my philosophy, and i doubt i will ever be able to concretely say, this is my philosophy and it will not change. This statement is simple, straightforward, and easy to absorb. Whether you are an adjunct, a lecturer, an assistant professor, or even a graduate assistant, effective teaching is within your grasp. A reasonably indepth discussion can be sparked just by asking questions about a book that was just read. Teaching is a calling that can directly impact the future. However, behaviorism doesnt explain how learning occurs in the brain. An international team of contributors, all of whom share the view that philosophy is a subject that can transform students, offers practical guidance and advice for teachers of philosophy. Teaching philosophy my philosophy of education is founded on the core principle that all children should have equal access to a quality education that will prepare them for higher education and to be contributing members of society. The book suggests ways in which the teaching of philosophy at undergraduate level might be facilitated.
Philosophy of teaching sharons elementary tep 2006. My teaching philosophy statement squarehead teachers. Read below for a short summary on several teaching theories, and see how they can help you better reach your students. However, most elementary school teachers focus on a specific grade level, teaching one class of students who are around the same age. A philosophy statement is usually limited to one or two pages, but it requires some brainstorming before getting. My teaching philosophy is based on my belief that the activities of reading and writing help us construct meaning from our experiences by prompting us to think critically about our world. Some of the essays place the emphasis on individual self discovery, others focus on the wider political context, many offer practical ideas for enhancing the teaching of philosophy through exercises that engage students in often.
This explanation makes clear that this teacher believes effective teaching brings everybody along together. The students not only learn about the event but also how their peers may view a historical event as having a different significance than the first student does. Schools were founded on the primary principle of teaching values to students as well as. A personal record drawn up and compiled by the teacher, often according to institutional, departmental, or college guidelines. If anything, i was born a learner, and along the way i learned how to teach. I wrote about that truism in some depth back in august of 2010 welcome to my classroom, but it bears revisiting as one element of a. The power to choose their own book creates an environment where students are motivated to learn because they are. Teaching philosophy faq plato philosophy learning and. A teaching philosophy statement is a narrative that includes. Teaching philosophy seeks to bring teaching philosophy higher on the academic agenda. Its time for lunch, just when math was getting fun. There are a number of helpful teaching theories including eriksons socioemotional development and gardners multiple intelligences.
Teaching philosophy as a second language teacher and learner, i often wonder about the factors that contribute to the overall success of my students. It made me realize that as teachers, in a teaching environment, we are the ones asking all the questions and students are spitting back answers. Plato promotes philosophy classes for all k12 students, including those in classrooms least likely to have access to academic enrichment programs. See sample teaching philosophy statements and dossiers from the university of calgary teaching academy below. I feel it is so important to build a relationship with each child who comes into my classroom and to earn their trust and respect. Teachers and educators page teaching children philosophy. Statement of teaching philosophy shari hodges holt, ph. It takes a position, the classroom is a living community and everyone contributes, and conveys it well. Major components of a philosophy of teaching statement. Anatole france first and foremost i plan to create a safe, secure and caring environment where students know that their ideas and opinions and suggestions will be respected by the teacher and the class. Based on the facts and evidence found in this paper, i have developed my own philosophy of teaching reading. The content of elementary school philosophy is not the traditional philosophical arguments that are the stuff of high school and college philosophy courses, or the traditional philosophical subdisciplines of ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, political philosophy and logic, or even the important figures in the history of philosophy though some of this may become meaningful for children once. Ask students to look at the cover and describe what the bunny is doing.
The statement needs to be specific to the teachers situation. The content of elementary school philosophy is not the traditional philosophical arguments that are the stuff of high school and college philosophy courses, or the traditional philosophical subdisciplines of ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, political philosophy and logic, or even the important figures in the history of philosophy though some of this may become meaningful for children. These theories will help you reach your students in a way that will help them to learn. Ask students to think of different things that can be.
Defining beliefs, aligning practice, taking action, k5 by debbie miller, everythings an. Each statement of teaching philosophy is very personal by nature. Statement of teaching philosophy november 2009 my teaching philosophy is the result of my experience as a teacher and also as a student for more than 20 years, in both the us and europe. I wrote about that truism in some depth back in august of 2010 welcome to my classroom, but it bears revisiting as one element of a more comprehensive philosophy. Statement of teaching philosophy university of new mexico. Philosophy of teaching diana ruggiero graduate teaching associate spanish and portuguese winner of the 2004 graduate teaching associate award. Lastly, the book recommends ways to shift the focus from individual change to organizational reform, creating an institutional mindset that values learnercentered, constructivist teaching. Therefore, it is the responsibility of a teacher to help facilitate an intellectual environment that will encourage students to use higher order thinking skills. In the current academic climate, teaching is often seen as secondary to research. Philosophy of teaching sharons elementary tep 2006 portfolio. Rather than telling students the answer, the teacher must guide them to the main goal or objective.
I believe that motivation strongly influences the rate and success of foreign language learning. Blackwell, carpet time for sharing and collaboration my teaching philosophy is to maintain a friendly, supportive classroom so school is a joyful. In fact, with both my parents being teachers, school always felt like a second home to me. For example, i use measurable objectives to show student achievement that is rooted in behaviorism.
I feel that students can relate to a historical event if they can ground that event in reality. But my heart remains in the elementary education segment in the educational system. Ohio state universitys center for the advancement of teaching further explains that a teaching philosophy statement is important because a clear philosophy of teaching can lead to a change in teaching behavior and foster professional and personal growth. Writing a teaching philosophy statement centre for teaching. I know that my philosophy will constantly change and evolve as i grow as a teacher. My teaching philosophy is a myriad of researchbased best practices drawing from the main human learning paradigms of behaviorism and cognitivism with constructivism as a subset of cognitivism.
My hope is that each day in some way i would show all my kids that i love them and believe in them. Npr ed stories that are great for learning to read can teach all kinds of things from philosophy to financial literacy. On the course part of the site, you will also find our elementary school. I believe teaching reading is the most important job an early elementary teacher has. Elementary teachers elemteachers queen of heaven school. Teaching for me is an opportunity to invest in the future. Bringing together the education and philosophy communities, plato celebrates diversity within the philosophy classroom and endorses a wide variety of philosophical approaches and methods. You should consider what you believe is the end goal or purpose of education. You generally need a teaching statement to apply for an academic position. I need to use my resources of people that may know my students more than i do families or understand better methods of teaching students with specific needs colleagues. A philosophy of teaching the chronicle of higher education.
I feel confident that my unique and genuine teaching philosophy will provide me with a strong foundation as i prepare to officially become an elementary school teacher and have. I enjoy teaching children of all ages from elementary to high school. Jan 21, 2019 a philosophy of education statement, sometimes called a teaching statement, should be a staple in every teacher s portfolio. That one simple sentence uttered by a student in passing sums up my philosophy and goals. For elementary school teachers, the statement is an opportunity to define what teaching means to you and allows you to describe how and why you teach as you do at the early stages of learning. Philosophy of teaching social studies teaching portfolio. I have been told that i am a born teacher, but this is not the case.
While you dont need to fit everything you believe about teaching into a single sentence, its important to be able to express the most central part of your ideas and priorities as a teacher. I found a great resource for teaching students how to ask good questions. Sample teaching philosophy statements taylor institute. Therefore, it should be up to instructors to decide what components to include in their own statements. I will continue to learn, along with my students, and i will always try to remain openminded and willing to grow in my beliefs and practices as a teacher. My philosophy as an elementary school educator has evolved over the past few years, guided by my intense passion for teaching and the diverse classroom experiences and learning environments to which i have been exposed. Samples of teaching philosophy statements from other universities. How to teach children philosophyand why you should big think. This book contains detailed instruction on how to facilitate a philosophy discussion as well as an entire curriculum for an introduction to philosophy class for elementary school children. I take this calling seriously and strive to help the students entrusted to me to grow into social, intellectual, and faithfilled individuals who will be positive productive citizens in the future. Teaching dossiers and philosophy statements allow educators to reflect on their teaching and educational leadership beliefs, their approaches to teaching and efficacy in the classroom. A practical, easy to read, and important guide for anyone in higher education. Primary and secondary sources are a great tool to use when teaching students, if they can be found.
A wellcrafted teaching statement gives a clear and unique portrait of the author as a teacher. My teaching philosophy journey through special education. Take a look at our book modules for a wide range of childrens books you might be interested in teaching. Students should have the opportunity to see a picture of a newspaper clipping and compare it to the newspaper today, to read an excerpt from a journal. You gave clear insight about your approach to teaching and i appreciated your statement that your philosophy may change as your experience in teaching grows. Whether its called a dossier, portfolio, or profile, t he teaching portfolio as an effective way for teachers to reflect upon, describe, and document their teaching philosophy, goals, and achievements a portfolio is. Sample teaching philosophy statements taylor institute for. Teaching children philosophy has a list of popular childrens stories and guides on how. An elementary teaching philosophy statement captures a teachers reasons for teaching, what methods he or she plans to use and examples of any teaching experience. In this expanded edition of in the socratic tradition 1997 kasachkoff adds new sections on teaching philosophy with computers, teaching philosophical explanation, and teaching philosophy of gender. There is no required content, set format, or right or wrong way to write a teaching statement. You can also make brief mention of educational theories or scientific studies that support your philosophy, or you can refer to other educators who exemplify your philosophy.
My learning philosophy teach dental hygiene students to. How to teach children philosophyand why you should big. Students are the future of our society and it is essential to be an effective role model and teacher to help shape our worlds future. Doing philosophy builds a real sense of community in the classroom and, at the same time, it aids in the individual intellectual development of your students. My teaching philosophy is that students learn the best when they are in a positive learning environment where they feel welcomed, comfortable, and safe with each other. The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards. Review the question that is written on the chart paper. I have often been asked how i feel about a certain aspect of teaching, or to express my philosophy of teaching. A child in my fourth grade classroom sighed loudly after the lunch bell rang in the midst of a particularly invigorating mathematics lesson. Teaching elementary school philosophy plato philosophy.
In fact, some states require teachers to be certified to teach a particular grade. I feel confident that my unique and genuine teaching philosophy will provide me with a strong foundation as i prepare to officially become an. My philosophy of teaching reading in a previous semester, i wrote a position paper on effective reading instruction. A teaching philosophy statement is a written description of your values, goals, and beliefs regarding both teaching and learning and uses evidence from your teaching to make the case that you have excelled as a teacher as a general expression of your beliefs and practices, your teaching philosophy can shape your syllabi or introduce your. Philosophy of education examples for elementary teachers. Lastly, the book recommends ways to shift the focus from individual change to organizational reform, creating an institutional mindset that values. Its hard to write into one sentence, or even a small paragraph, because there are so many aspects to education. Students should also be given the opportunity to step inside their history books and act out the events portrayed there.
727 599 1189 1379 1451 112 259 248 204 355 26 984 869 1323 983 135 1498 1091 1161 207 1363 329 153 411 1250 626 239 1259 1212 370 651 179 730 486 627 1102 696 598 148 1435 143 530 264 449 499 1316 932 1374 1136