Teaching Philosophy
Every child deserves the right to a free and comprehensive education. Without a doubt, this is the issue that motivated me to become a teacher. I am deeply indebted to my teachers. I looked up to them because they encouraged me and motivated me to keep going. I understand the power that a great teacher holds in helping and influencing her students. I believe that teachers have the best opportunity to shape the futures of their students.
Education is not solely based on book learning and standardized tests, but is also based on the relationships made and the life skills learned within a classroom. I believe I am personally suited for teaching in the single subject credential area because I possess the qualities that make me a good role model. It means that it is not only important for me to be well-versed in the subject I am teaching, but also creative, positive, and willing to put in the extra effort to ensure the success of my students. When I was a graduate teaching fellow for a course on international economics, my students (many who lacked a background in business and economics) had a difficult time understanding the concepts the professor taught in lecture. For me, this presented an opportunity to increase the effectiveness of their sections. I created lesson plans that covered the concepts taught in lecture by incorporating games, such as Jeopardy, debates, and real-world examples of the key concepts. Through increasing student engagement with the materials, students were able to increase their comprehension of the subject matter.
Public school students are diverse in their cultures, languages, and learning needs. As a teacher in a diverse setting, I hope to have a positive impact on all of my students. During my master’s degree research, I worked with Latino immigrant families living in Oregon. The parents were some the hardest working individuals I have ever met; yet, they were also some of the most heavily discriminated against and their children were subject to the same conditions. As a teacher, I hope to instill confidence and provide social empowerment to students who have been underserved.
My strengths as a teacher lie in my ability to be creative and willing to adapt learning methods to meet the needs of the students. Students learn in different ways and it is critical to recognize that not every teaching method will work for every student. I am an advocate of project-based learning and developing students’ critical thinking skills so they understand real-world applications of science. I found that when I taught social science, students engaged better with the topic when I used hands-on methods such as debates, games (with healthy competition), or peer-to-peer interactions where students were encouraged to assume the role of teacher.
As a teacher, I understand the influence I will have in shaping the lives of my students. I am eager to help today’s youth succeed in an ever-challenging and competitive environment.
Education is not solely based on book learning and standardized tests, but is also based on the relationships made and the life skills learned within a classroom. I believe I am personally suited for teaching in the single subject credential area because I possess the qualities that make me a good role model. It means that it is not only important for me to be well-versed in the subject I am teaching, but also creative, positive, and willing to put in the extra effort to ensure the success of my students. When I was a graduate teaching fellow for a course on international economics, my students (many who lacked a background in business and economics) had a difficult time understanding the concepts the professor taught in lecture. For me, this presented an opportunity to increase the effectiveness of their sections. I created lesson plans that covered the concepts taught in lecture by incorporating games, such as Jeopardy, debates, and real-world examples of the key concepts. Through increasing student engagement with the materials, students were able to increase their comprehension of the subject matter.
Public school students are diverse in their cultures, languages, and learning needs. As a teacher in a diverse setting, I hope to have a positive impact on all of my students. During my master’s degree research, I worked with Latino immigrant families living in Oregon. The parents were some the hardest working individuals I have ever met; yet, they were also some of the most heavily discriminated against and their children were subject to the same conditions. As a teacher, I hope to instill confidence and provide social empowerment to students who have been underserved.
My strengths as a teacher lie in my ability to be creative and willing to adapt learning methods to meet the needs of the students. Students learn in different ways and it is critical to recognize that not every teaching method will work for every student. I am an advocate of project-based learning and developing students’ critical thinking skills so they understand real-world applications of science. I found that when I taught social science, students engaged better with the topic when I used hands-on methods such as debates, games (with healthy competition), or peer-to-peer interactions where students were encouraged to assume the role of teacher.
As a teacher, I understand the influence I will have in shaping the lives of my students. I am eager to help today’s youth succeed in an ever-challenging and competitive environment.