department of Central Connecticut State University, is from Rita Pierson. “Kids don't learn from
people they don't like.” This resonates with me on so many levels. My primary goal as a physical
education and health science teacher is to provide an equal opportunity for all students, no
matter their ability, to understand the importance and benefits of leading and maintaining a
personal relationship with all my students. All my students should like me. All my students
knowledge from someone else. A successful learning situation would be an entire class of
emphasize positivity, good relationships, and tolerance and understanding to make a good
school and a good classroom. Paulo Freire was a Brazilian educator who preached tolerance.
Tolerance is understanding and listening to other people’s prospective and recognizing them as
views as beautiful as yours, even if you disagree with their sentiment. I strongly believe in the
idea of tolerance and urge everyone to practice a little more tolerance in their life
approach to work things out. This is how I connect to students. Humanism is the easiest way to
tap into student’s full potential. Humanism is student-based and creates the greatest
opportunity for every student to be successful. All people learn differently. Some people learn
through logical progressions, some learn through naturalistic experiences. In my lessons, I try to
provide as many opportunities for students to learn in as many ways as possible. Whether that
is to turn a lecture into a kinesthetic activity, or something as simple as playing music during
warm-ups.
professors, my administrators, my co-workers, but most importantly the people whose life I
effect most; my students! While all those people are invaluable resources, they are not the
ones I am trying to provide a meaningful impact to. A book titled, “Fires in the Bathroom:
Advice for Teachers from High School Students” by Kathleen Cushman, is a book based off
quotes from real high school students. This book provided me with incite and reinforced my
humanistic philosophy. Two main themes that arouse from almost every student is that
teachers should be confident, and passionate. These two attributes are at the center of my
Confidence in what I say holds more value to those I am trying to reach with my words.
knowing the material, answer all questions, and to keep your word. If I say I am going to do
something, I will make sure to do it. This develops trust, and builds on the student’s confidence
in you. Passion comes in many forms. Three ways I find most effective are, enthusiasm, effort,
and showing you care. Enthusiasm and effort are contagious. The more energy and effort you
provide, the more energy and effort will be returned through student participation. As
important as those characteristics are, showing you care might be the most important. As
stated by Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, the most essential need behind food, water,
clothing, and shelter, is safety. Creating a positive, safe learning environment is not hard. All
My beliefs and philosophies have grown and adapted over the years but they are based
on the same basic principles. In my professional career I plan to continue that growth and
adaptation. Being a reflective teacher is being a good teacher, you can learn a lot from yourself
and your mistakes. Reflecting on your teaching will also help you try out new things. Getting out
of your comfort zone is the best way to achieve growth. This is emphasized in the philosopher
Plato’s writing of “The Cave - Breaking the Chains of Ignorance.” Plato mentions that following
the crowd and doing only what you know will only close you off to the possibilities that lie
outside your comfort zone. Once you break the chains that bind you, you can reflect, adapt, and
Students know why education is important, my role as a teacher is to provide them with
education worth caring for. John Dewey said, “I believe that the art of thus giving shape to
human powers and adapting them to social service, is the supreme art; one calling into its
service the best of artists; that no insight, sympathy, tact, executive power, is too great for such
service." Teaching is not only my future passions but also my future profession and finest form
of art. I will continue working on my philosophies and grow as a human being and a teacher.
Providing a safe place for students to grow is what my teaching philosophy is all about. I want
to maximize success, and reduce the opportunity to fail, while still maintaining real world
experiences. Tolerance, understanding, and love are what all people deserve, and those are the
Dewey, John (1897) ‘My pedagogic creed’, The School Journal, Volume LIV, Number 3 (January 16, 1897),
pages 77-80.
Freire, P. (1972). Pedagogy of the oppressed. New York: Herder and Herder.
Plato, ., Grube, G. M. A., & Reeve, C. D. C. (1992). Republic. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub. Co