Teaching Philosophy Statement

Teaching has been my calling ever since I had Mrs. Pompeii in third grade at Byron

Elementary School. I spent hours lining up my stuffed animals in rows, reading books to them,

and teaching them mathematics on the whiteboard. As I got older, my passion for teaching was

validated by various experiences I had interacting with children. Now as a student at the

College of Saint Benedict, I have invested myself in a variety of teaching opportunities and

education courses that have challenged and enhanced my understanding of what it means to

be a teacher. My background, the education I received at St. Bens, and each of the teaching

opportunities I had have all molded the foundational principles that guide my teaching today.

One of the most basic, yet essential, attitudes that guides the way I approach teaching is

my belief that each of my students is capable of learning well. By focusing on building positive

relationships with each my students, I will be able to effectively convey my confidence in them

and the high expectations I have for each of them. As an educator, my role is also to provide

students with a stimulating environment to foster their unique learning styles. I will do this by

differentiating instruction to meet their diverse needs while continually challenging them to

think critically. Additionally, I will view each of my students as creative problem solvers.

Teaching is not the act of pouring knowledge into passive minds but rather the task of

equipping my students with the tools they need to create meaning using their unique schemas.

In addition to the best practice teaching strategies I will implement, assessment must

also act as an instructional tool for my learners. I will achieve this by utilizing varied forms of

assessment including informal observation and authentic methods where students can apply
their knowledge to real world scenarios. These assessment strategies, among others, are ways

to extend students thinking while accurately assessing their progress.

My teaching philosophy will continue to evolve as I engage in new experiences that

continue to shape my understanding of what it means to be an effective educator. Along the

way, I will inevitably make mistakes; teaching is messy sometimes. The key to learning from

these messy moments is reflection. Reflecting on my teaching strengths and areas for

improvement will allow me to make changes to become the educator I strive to be for each of

the children I have the privilege to call my student.