Alyssa Manthos

Teaching Philosophy

Benjamin Franklin once said…“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve

me and I learn.” As an educator this holds true for my students. Involvement leads to a feeling of

inclusion and a sense of belonging for students. As a physical educator, my goals for student

learning will always be to create equal opportunity for all students, instilling the confidence

needed which will increase student motivation. Ultimately, providing my students with the

knowledge of living a healthy lifestyle and how to apply this outside of the classroom is crucial. I

will teach students motor skills and manipulative skills that will have an impact on their

everyday physical activity. I will teach students how to utilize their listening skills, take personal

and social responsibilities seriously, and to be respectful to students, faculty, and educational

facilities. I am preparing my students to live the best quality of life possible. This goal will guide

my curriculum by putting the needs of my students above all else.

I am a firm believer in individualized instruction. Understanding that the greatest method

of instruction starts with the individual is of importance when facilitating student learning. I will

be an advocate for my students which means learning strengths and weaknesses of students to

better develop their skill and better their educational experience. This method of individualized

instruction is appropriate for use in physical education because it ensures the success of all

students. Student development is not based on age or grade, but on individual factors. Providing

intratask variations for students allows for students to perform and complete tasks at their

personal developmental rates.

 Assessment of goals and evaluation of student learning holds great value. The purpose of

this is to set individual and class goals that can be achieved, progress can be tracked, and can

later be assessed. Formative and summative assessments play a contribution to student learning,

as well as, giving me the opportunity to view if goals are being met by students. This is where

being a reflective educator comes into play. My goal is ensuring student success, which means

managing course material and making sure students fully grasp the topics taught. Assessments

are related to my priorities for students because it is a sure way to check student understanding.

My own, as well, as my students identities, backgrounds, experiences, and level of

privileges have an impact on the culture of the classroom. As previously stated, one of my

number one goals is to always be an advocate for my students. This means having an

understanding for the context of the school. My goal as an educator will always be to create a

safe and healthy learning environment for my students. By educating myself on my students

experiences, backgrounds, privilege levels, and identities, I will be able to utilize diverse

learning styles. Equal opportunity for all students also means considering topics of all cultural

sports and activities to create a sense of belonging, to build student ability, interest and

motivation as well. By doing this I will be integrating more diverse perspectives into my

teaching and creating an accepting, inclusive, and positive learning environment for all of my

students.