Teaching Philosophy
I have known my entire life that I wanted to be a teacher and my love for writing and literature made my choice to make English my main focus an easy one. English is the backbone to all other subjects as it allows students to communicate and convey ideas through speaking and writing, which is an applicable skill in all areas. In order to promote forward progression and change in our society one must be equipped with these skills, and I want to exhibit to my students the importance of these literacies. Reading and literature can be a way to experience people, places, and emotions that students may never be able to otherwise. The ability to understand how gender, culture, religion, and other factors inform one’s thinking and find continuities amongst these differences allows for a more accepting society. I want to demonstrate to my students how analyzing the world around them can create informed opinions and ideas from what they have read. Therefore, I believe that from canonical to contemporary literature, reading the world through different perspectives can teach students to be empathetic and tolerant.
Along with social change, speaking, writing, and reading are important components in allowing students to be creative and expressive. In a world that promotes production, the importance of imagination is often lost. However, I believe young minds need this in order to discover who they are as individuals. Reading fictional literature can offer escape from the monotony of life, while poetry and prose can be a cathartic process during the often-confusing times of adolescence.
Choosing history as my minor has proved to work congruently with English in many ways. First, learning history helps one to evaluate the person they are, and the society they function within by learning from the past. Also, similarly to English, the ever-evolving idea of history has allowed the silenced to gain a voice. Just as contemporary literature has allowed the stories of the marginalized to be read, history as a subject is becoming more inclusive. I want to teach my students that history is not always a true representation of the past, but rather the opinions of those who had the ability to record it. If primary sources are consulted and biases are acknowledged it is possible to rewrite the truths of the past and let all voices be heard and recognized.
One of the most important aspects to the teaching profession to me is being able to provide my students with a safe and inclusive atmosphere to learn and grow. I will make it a priority to create an atmosphere where students can express themselves without the fear of judgment or restriction. Building a classroom community assists in the ability for students to explore their abilities and take risks that will improve their comprehension in classroom material. It is imperative that my students treat one another with respect, and it is equally as important that I remain open to all my students’ backgrounds and opinions as well. I believe a teacher should show students how to think, not tell them what to think.
I believe that education is the most important part of a functioning society as it creates informed and empathetic citizens. It is my goal as an educator to show students the power and mobility that knowledge can generate. Education should be a collective effort that goes beyond the physical walls of a classroom and into the communities and homes of its students.
Along with social change, speaking, writing, and reading are important components in allowing students to be creative and expressive. In a world that promotes production, the importance of imagination is often lost. However, I believe young minds need this in order to discover who they are as individuals. Reading fictional literature can offer escape from the monotony of life, while poetry and prose can be a cathartic process during the often-confusing times of adolescence.
Choosing history as my minor has proved to work congruently with English in many ways. First, learning history helps one to evaluate the person they are, and the society they function within by learning from the past. Also, similarly to English, the ever-evolving idea of history has allowed the silenced to gain a voice. Just as contemporary literature has allowed the stories of the marginalized to be read, history as a subject is becoming more inclusive. I want to teach my students that history is not always a true representation of the past, but rather the opinions of those who had the ability to record it. If primary sources are consulted and biases are acknowledged it is possible to rewrite the truths of the past and let all voices be heard and recognized.
One of the most important aspects to the teaching profession to me is being able to provide my students with a safe and inclusive atmosphere to learn and grow. I will make it a priority to create an atmosphere where students can express themselves without the fear of judgment or restriction. Building a classroom community assists in the ability for students to explore their abilities and take risks that will improve their comprehension in classroom material. It is imperative that my students treat one another with respect, and it is equally as important that I remain open to all my students’ backgrounds and opinions as well. I believe a teacher should show students how to think, not tell them what to think.
I believe that education is the most important part of a functioning society as it creates informed and empathetic citizens. It is my goal as an educator to show students the power and mobility that knowledge can generate. Education should be a collective effort that goes beyond the physical walls of a classroom and into the communities and homes of its students.