Teaching Philosophy

Victoria Sobecky
 My philosophy of education is that all children are unique and must have a stimulating

educational environment where students can grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and

socially. I desire to create a type of atmosphere where students can meet their full potential in the

scaffolding of education. As a teacher, I teach from my heart. I will provide a safe environment

where students are invited to share their ideas and take risks. I believe that five essential

elements are conducive to learning. The teacher’s first role is to act as a guide. Students must

have access to hands-on activities as well as learning materials. Students should be able to have

choices and let their curiosity direct their learning. Students need the opportunity to practice

skills in a safe environment. Finally, technology must be incorporated into the school day. The

teacher’s role is not only to instruct but to learn along with the students. The classroom becomes

a space that promotes critical thinking and learning.

As a teacher, I will be sure to implement Bloom's taxonomy as a model. I would like to

incorporate pre-assessments before every unit to gauge prior knowledge on the topic. Students

will be given activities in different realms of cognition. Students will need to use previous

experience to incorporate new ideas and issues in existing schemes. I will evaluate the most

formative and summative assessments. Each child should be accommodated as much as possible

to be able to achieve their interests and learning. It is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure all

lessons are appropriate. This can be done through using several techniques such as pictures and

charts, in lessons, using seating placements as a strength, explaining directions as clearly and

concisely as possible, and providing extra time on tasks, among others. I will vary from different

assessments by using other methods besides standard testing examples. I will be using homework

as not as a grade. I stand by the idea that homework will be used as a guide and reinforcement

tool and will not be given frivolously or in large amounts. Any of the classwork, assignments,
quizzes, or tests will be used as a grade. I will use Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences in

my classroom. I believe that each child learns and thinks in many different ways. This will also

be a consideration of mine when conducting lessons and activities for the students. As a teacher,

I stand behind the idea of learning hands-on, therefore, in my classroom, I will encompass all the

types of intelligence by providing visuals, hands-on activities, critical thinking, and literacy

devices. As a guide in the school, I will also encourage the parents to become guides in their

child’s education. By doing so, I will emphasize the importance of guardian or parent

involvement by providing many opportunities. I will do this by sending home a newsletter,

having a website in which all guardians can see what is going on in the classroom, and encourage

guardians to review and help their children at home by keeping in close contact with them.

I believe that a classroom should be a safe, caring community where children are free to

speak their minds and blossom and grow. I will use strategies to ensure our classroom

community will flourish, for example, morning meetings, positive vs. negative discipline,

classroom jobs, and problem-solving skills. As a teacher, I will make sure my students are

engaged to the best of their abilities when learning in the classroom. I will make sure to

communicate with every student to be a good teacher. You first have to understand your

students.

Teaching is a process of learning from your students, colleagues, the community, and

especially the parents. Education is a lifelong process where you learn new strategies, new ideas,

and unique philosophies. Over time, my scholarly opinion may change, and that is alright. That

means that as a teacher, I have grown and learned new things along with my students. Because

being an effective teacher means more words or actions than anything else from a textbook. An

effective teacher defines teaching as being the teacher who is passionate about their students,
subject matter, and classroom. Therefore, students can become more engaged by their teacher’s

compassion towards them and what they teach. I, as a teacher, will always make sure to be still

engaged, exciting, enthusiastic, and have high energy to spark my students’ interest every day in

the subjects they are learning.