Derek Jesse

Teaching Seminar 3505

Professor Darlene St. Georges

September 23, 2019

My Teaching Philosophy

I believe as an educator it is my job to expect the best from my students every day, if my

class does not leave feeling as exhausted as I do, then I have not done my job, and they have not

truly learned. I recognize that every student that walks through my door is a unique individual

bringing with them a diverse and plentiful array of knowledge. I believe the experience they

bring is valuable and should be utilized and shared; together, we shall learn from each other. As

a teacher it is my responsibility to ensure the light inside a flourishing mind is not snuffed out.

My classroom is my home. I want it to be a positive learning environment for all my

students. I believe that a positive climate builds positive attitudes toward learning. I firmly

believe that when students enter my classroom, they are part of a family that is connected to a

broader community that is our school and therefore, we all must have respect for each individual

regardless of gender, ethnicity, race, or, culture. We all have a responsibility to embrace each

other's differences and individual personalities, and at the same time understand we are all

imperfect, have faults, and will make mistakes. Therefore we all must be empathetic and

apologetic when issues arise for our community to thrive.

The curriculum is an essential part of education, and it is necessary that each unit and

combined lesson plan meet and exceed the General learner outcomes as well as the specific

learner outcomes. However, I believe that the curriculum should go beyond the program of

studies that it should evoke each student into wanting to be a global citizen. Each lesson plan
must be interwoven with relevant information and situations to further their learning in a

meaningful way. The hidden curriculum is as crucial as the learned curriculum.

Technology has become a part of everything we do, it is how we communicate with each

other, but we need to be conscientious about how we interpret that information. I want my

students to be able to think critically about the information they receive to be well-informed

citizens. Technology needs to be seamlessly integrated into lesson plan design so that students

are better equipped to accept the challenges of advancing technologies, as well as being able to

evaluate its impact.

I believe that every child can learn and as an educator, I must find ways to ensure that

every student receives the best quality education by having a diverse tool kit of assignments, and

assessments, I will ensure that my students’ evaluations are valid and reliable. Every student will

have an equal opportunity to learn and grow.