My Teaching Philosophy

I pride myself on my ability to see every person's true potential. I learned a long time ago not to judge someone on their first impression. Some students will be able to grasp things immediately while others will need more time and encouragement to meet their goals. I understand what it takes to be a "good" teacher. A teacher needs to listen to her students as well as teach. If a student is having trouble learning something, I will do my best to rethink the way I'm teaching and change if necessary. All students need encouragement. As an educator I want to be as big of an encouragement to my students as my teachers were to me. Knowing that someone believes in you and is there to back you up is one of the greatest feelings in the world. I want all of my students to know that they can accomplish anything as long as they have the will and determination to do so.

Teaching has always been a passion of mine. Being able to give others the tools they need to be successful is such a rewarding thing. My high school English teacher, Braxton Knott has been my biggest inspiration. For the first time in my school career, I wanted to go to school. I looked forward to his class everyday. I even audited his class during Driver's Ed. Mr. Knott was unlike any other teacher I had. He knew how to engage his students. He would often start class by talking about his kids, usually something funny that had happened recently. His stories made us as students see him as more than just a teacher, he was an ordinary person like the rest of us. He connected with us on a personal level, which gave us a greater desire to learn what he had to teach us. I am currently studying to become a High School English teacher. I hope to one day inspire my students as my teachers have inspired me.

Podcasts

I have never been a fan of podcasts. Until now, that is. I have learned that podcasts can be a great teaching tool. Having students create their own podcasts is an excellent way to get them involved in what they're learning. A typical day in class includes a room full of students listening to their teacher lecture. How exciting would it be for the teacher to listen to his/her students! When I become an educator I would love to give my students the opportunity to create and listen to podcasts to enhance their learning.

Blogging

I will definitely have my students create a blog for class, if possible. Blogging is a way for students to keep up with their progress in class. By writing about what they are learning they are able to have other people evaluate their progress. This will also be a way for parents to see what their children are learning at school. So many parents want to be more involved with their children's work, and having a blog for them to visit helps accomplish that. The best part is that creating and maintaining blogs is free!

Skype

Skype is a wonderful tool that helps connect people all over the world. If possible I would love to use Skype in my classroom. I have been able to stay connected with people with this amazing tool. Students will be able to see and talk with someone from across the world right in their classroom. We can see how life is on the other side of the planet. Another great thing about Skype, it's free! This will help students realize how big the world actually is, and hopefully teach them to look beyond themselves.

Positive Reinforcement

Rewarding good behavior is key when dealing with students. When students excel, it is important for us as educators to let them know that we notice and that we're proud of their progress. If we only have something to say when a student is doing poorly, then we are showing them that we only care when they do something wrong. Hard work should never go unnoticed. I will do my best as a teacher to encourage my students every step of the way and to show them that hard work can and does pay off.

Learning is Fun

I plan on being an English teacher. Learning the parts of speech doesn't sound like an exciting thing, however I will do whatever it takes to teach in a way that my students wont get bored. Making learning exciting is a way to capture students' attention and to keep them interested. My favorite teachers in school were the ones who brought candy on test days. I will use technology as much as possible to keep my students interested. And of course if all else fails, I'll bring candy to sway them to pay attention!

Believing in my Students

Students of all ages need to know that someone believes that they can accomplish anything. As a teacher I will do everything in my power to make sure that all of my students know that I have faith in them. Not every student has the perfect home life, full of encouragement and adoration. For those students, I will be that source of encouragement. I can't guarantee that every student I teach will love English and grammar, but I can guarantee that no student of mine will walk out thinking I didn't care about their progress in my class. No one in my class will receive a grade they didn't earn. I hope that I will be able to do all of these things for my students. After I start teaching I'm sure I will re-read all of the things I've posted and see how well I measure up.