Miss Jensen’s Philosophy of Education

Every teacher has a different reason for why they became what they became. I wanted to be a
teacher because I wanted to expand the horizons of my students. I want to help them find their
interests and passions, all while learning about the world.

Throughout the learning process, both the teacher and the student have different jobs. The role
of the teacher is to guide the student to learning new things about themselves and the world.
The teacher should not only teach the information, but also teach the student how to be a life-
long learner. As the poster on my Spanish teacher’s door says, “Teachers provide the door, but
you have to open it yourself.” This means that students have a responsibility to work hard to
obtain their own understanding of things.

A teacher needs to be able to adapt to the needs of their students by choosing curriculum and
activities that will best meet those needs. I think the best way to choose curriculum and
strategies is by evaluating every option. This is why I want to be constantly doing research and
reading books about new teaching techniques that I can apply in my own classroom. I’ll also
take into account the regulations set by the state and my principal. My management strategy will
be to enforce rules more strictly at the beginning of the year and loosen up the reins as the year
continues. I want to be able to do fun things with my class, and for that I’ll need to stress
mayhem-free behavior. When planning each lesson, I’ll be sure to take into account the needs of
each of my students. I’ll provide any accommodations as mandated by the 504 or other type of
plan.

One of the most important parts of teaching is ensuring that your students “get it”. Different
styles of assessment will help with this task. I will assess student understanding with an
emphasis on projects and presentations more than tests. If the student can take the information
and turn it into a create project, then that will usually show that they have learned it. I think
presentations are also a good idea because it helps students practice public speaking skills, as
well as teaching the students who are listening to the presentation. I will play lots of review
games to help them prepare for bigger, unavoidable tests. I will also have an “ACT Question of
the Day” or an “SAT Vocab Word of the Day” as my warm-up for some classes, so that they can
get in that little bit of practice every day.

An important quality of a teacher is the desire to improve oneself. A teacher should be focused
on helping their students. I think the best way to serve my students is by showing them I care.
I’ll go the extra mile for them and be a listening ear when they need it. Students should expect
me to follow the rules and not to make exceptions or special cases when they are not absolutely
necessary. Students should also expect me to challenge them in their learning.

To me, learning means expanding your horizons, entertaining ideas you never thought were
possible, and gaining more understanding for the world around you. I think that learning can be
really fun and rewarding when it is not bogged down with rules and technicalities. I am very
passionate about making learning fun. My favorite teachers have been those who made the
subject material relatable and interesting. Many different engaging lessons stand out in my
mind, whereas boring days fade away into the mists of time. Many students turn against school
just because it isn’t fun. It’s hard for teachers to compete with the fast-paced world of social
media. Of course, school’s purpose isn’t to be entertained. Nevertheless, I believe that it is
imperative to engage students with outside-of-the-box lessons. These will instill a love of
learning into students and make them look forward to coming to school.