Teaching Philosophy

Rheanna Wurz

Having a positive and caring learning environment ensures that students have the best
opportunity to flourish.

I want to teach because my previous experiences have inspired me to work with children.
I have volunteered in a grade 4 classroom, assisted as a junior dance teacher, tutored, and
currently work at Family Ties Association with children that have disabilities. Through these
experiences, I have come to appreciate the uniqueness of each child. These opportunities will
help guide me in my teaching as I can understand and empathise with many individuals.
My work with disabled children has contributed significantly to the approach I would like
to take as I begin my teaching journey. In aiding these children, I have started to understand
some of the diverse challenges they face in their day-to-day lives. Working at Family Ties
Association has taught me to adapt and develop many different approaches to learning and
gaining knowledge. Everyone learns at a different pace and in a different way, so it is crucial to
be flexible in my teaching strategies. Encouragement also significantly affects the retainment of
knowledge. By encouraging students to challenge themselves and push themselves out of their
comfort zone, I can show that I support them and inspire them to become the best version of
themselves.
To me, being a teacher means creating a positive environment for my students. I want
everyone to feel welcome in my classroom and to feel that their presence is valuable. I feel this is
important to developing an effective learning environment because in my experience, I
succeeded far better during my education when teachers were welcoming and made me feel like
an essential classroom member. One of my clearest memories of feeling like I belonged was
during my first day of grade one. I was afraid and anxious to be at a new school, but my teacher
made sure that I was comfortable in her classroom. She wanted me to know that I mattered and
had a place in her classroom. Even though I was a new student, she showed me that school could
be a safe and caring environment. Providing a safe and caring environment in the classroom also
helps promote positive relationships with students. I believe students must know that you trust
them and care about their wellbeing. To some students, a school is a safe place away from other
stresses that they are experiencing outside the classroom. Therefore, I believe it is crucial to
understand what students are going through and empathise with their situations. School was my
safe place growing up. I had a broken home, and constant arguments were happening between
my parents. My teachers understood what was happening at home and supported me through
challenging times. Based on my experience and insight, my goal as a teacher is to ensure that my
students feel safe in my classroom and within the school. Students need to have a support
network within the school. I want my students to know that I have their back through difficult
times and that they can come to me for support when they need it. I may not be a school
counselor; however, I believe it is crucial to provide empathy, patience and understanding
toward students when necessary.
Committing to teaching also means committing to being a life-long learner. Knowing and
learning new things is an integral part of a teacher's career. The world is constantly changing,
and I believe it is vital to continue adapting and learning new things as a teacher. The societal
knowledge students need today is entirely different from what they needed ten years ago and is
still different from what kids will need to know in the future. Knowledge is a powerful thing, and
giving children the foundation to be lifelong learners is essential for the future. I want students to
be engaged in learning, and in doing so, I would like to provide experiences that allow them to
become involved in the curriculum. During my childhood, I enjoyed it when teachers offered a
variety of opportunities to express our knowledge. Whether through a poster, PowerPoint, skit,
music video, or any other activities that I participated in, they were crucial in helping me build
the knowledge I have today. As a teacher, I want students to understand that having a wide range
of skills and experiences enables them to go further in life after formal education.
At the end of the day, I want kids to be excited about going to school. I want them to be
educated individuals with a passion for being life-long learners. Students should learn to develop
their unique identities and accept their differences when setting foot in my classroom. I believe
my job as an educator lies not only in teaching children the required curriculum but also in
encouraging them to be better people. To be a successful teacher, I need to facilitate a positive
and caring learning environment that allows students to flourish in the classroom and as citizens
of the world.