Teaching Philosophy - Sarah Brown 2021

As a teacher I strive to help my students develop critical thinking skills through inquiry based
learning. I will help them build a solid knowledge base of the topic while also scaffolding the
ability to learn and think deeply. For students, this will look like lab activities and interactive
classroom work. Students will be developing their critical thinking skills by conducting research
and analyzing data. In order to reach these goals, I will draw upon my knowledge of
constructivist theory. I plan to utilize the students’ prior knowledge and build upon it to make
information more accessible and tangible to students. The information presented in class will be
related back to my students' backgrounds and cultures so that it is relatable and easily digested.
In order to do this, I will use case studies that are relevant to the region. I will also provide
simulations so that scenarios that are unfamiliar to some students can be seen and understood.
In order to assess student learning, I will collect a variety of learning samples in the form of
projects, worksheets, tests, and conversation. For example, after discussing information during
class I will assign the students a worksheet that addresses the same information to make sure
that the students understood what they learned. I believe that grades should be given for effort
during a unit; students will learn at different paces and grading for accuracy early on in a unit
can discourage students and disrupt learning. I plan to grade most of my worksheets and
homework assignments for completion and allow students to correct them so that they have the
right answers and can use them as a study resource. I also plan to accept late work with little to
no penalty. Sometimes life gets in the way of school and I do not expect my students to be
perfect. All I expect is that my students openly communicate with me about their late work and
their plans to complete unfinished assignments. Within high school science, it is essential that
students gain the ability to think critically. My main purpose as their instructor is to scaffold them
while they learn to navigate new information using inquiry and scientific practices. For example,
I plan to include lab activities in my classroom where students are required to investigate
phenomena and draw their own conclusions based on collected data. I will incorporate formative
assessments throughout my teaching to check for student understanding and subject mastery.
These informal assessments will allow me to pace my teaching at a speed that is appropriate for
the class. These assessments may be worksheets, probing questions, or classroom
discussions. I believe that as a teacher I am able to learn a lot from my students. I will allow
their comprehension to guide my teaching. It is essential that I understand how the students
learn in order to teach them effectively.