When I consider my teaching philosophy, I think about my personal experiences in the classroom and what I find most valuable for my future students. I’ve included a paragraph from my letter of introduction that I created for practicum. The information I included in this paragraph explains the background behind my teaching philosophy and why I value certain things in the classroom:

I aspire to be a teacher not only to teach valuable information to students, but to also make connections that extend beyond the material taught in the classroom. During my schooling experience, I attended multiple schools in various cities. Even though the thought of attending a new school was terrifying, I vividly remember the positive environment my teachers created. They made me feel incredibly welcomed, cared for, and contributed to making the transition easier. As a teacher, I strive to create a welcoming atmosphere for my students because I believe students thrive while being surrounded by those who support them. My main goal for my classroom is to create a family-like environment where each student feels welcome to share their opinions and have open discussions to enhance their understandings.

After considering what I find most valuable in the classroom, I created a teaching philosophy that reflects my beliefs as an educator. As I grow my knowledge and gain more experience in the classroom, I plan to adapt my teaching philosophy to fully reflect my goals as a teacher.

My teaching philosophy is to create a safe environment where every student feels included and welcomed. I value the importance of creating positive teacher-student relationships, so students feel comfortable in their learning environment to take risks and share their thoughts. Students thrive when they feel safe in their learning environment. Thus, my goal is to create a family-like environment so students can openly share their opinions and grow their understandings.

P.S. The photo in this post is by Alexandra Lamme on Unsplash.