teaching philosophy
Throughout my field experiences at Wartburg College and experiences working with children, I have developed a teaching philosophy that I will implement in my classroom. My teaching philosophy relies heavily on fostering my students’ self-efficacy. I feel that throughout my experiences, I have learned that children perform best when they believe in themselves. I believe that any micro-messages you send students, whether they are good or bad, can influence whether or not the students believe they can succeed. These may be small, but powerful, messages that you can convey to students without even saying a word. I believe that it is my job to make sure that I am sending messages that help my students feel like they are capable of succeeding. I want all students in my classroom to feel capable of achieving success at whatever they choose to do with their lives. I feel that if I can help instill in my students strong self-efficacy, then they will be more successful in school.
Along with promoting self-efficacy in my students, I also want each one of my students to feel safe and comfortable when they are in my classroom. The learning environment in my classroom will always promote student safety. In order for students to focus on learning, I believe they need to be physically safe and well. They also need to feel comfortable emotionally and mentally. I believe that each child should be given what he or she needs in order to succeed in my classroom. "Fair" does not mean "equal"; "fair" means that all students will get what they need to reach their fullest potential. I will do whatever I can to ensure that each of my students’ needs are being met so that they can perform at their highest academic level.
Lastly, I believe that each teacher should establish positive relationships with colleagues, administrators, and parents to ensure that the best decisions are being made for each and every student. I plan to keep parents informed on what we are doing in the classroom, as well as what they can do to help their students in the home environment. I will keep parents informed on their child’s progress and let them know that they can come to me with any concerns they may have. I will also foster positive relationships with colleagues and administrators. I believe that unity is strength; when teachers, parents, and administrators work together as a team, the students will have a greater opportunity to be successful. This is my goal for all students.