Classroom Environment Philosophy

My Classroom
My personal philosophy for my potential high school classroom is to
provide students with the building blocks to reach their full potential when dealing
with English literature. I plan to have hands-on and group activities to visually
enhance students’ understanding of complex concepts. By using discussion and
collaborator methods, students will be able to share ideas with others, self-enhance
(support or edit) their own ideas, and become more confident in their authentic
responses; this will also help to build a sense of classroom unity and community. I
plan to provide a positive and judgment “free” classroom where students are able
to share their thoughts without the fear of being scrutinized by others. As for
disruptive behavior; after the class session, I will have a one-on-one conversation
with the disruptive student. If the behavior continues, I will take the proper action
necessary (depending on the type of disruptive behavior) which may include
meeting with the principal, guidance counselor, or holding a parent/teacher
conference.
One of the most influential authors that affected my classroom environment
was Gloria Ladson-Billing’s “Culturally Relevant Pedagogy”. This pedagogy of
being culturally relevant, or responsive teaching, is grounded in teachers’
displaying cultural competence in the classroom. I kept this pedagogy in mind
while writing my classroom environment philosophy and how to relate to a variety
of students with various backgrounds. Another reading that influenced my
philosophy was “Teaching for Excellence in Academically Diverse Classrooms”,
written by Carol Tomlinson. This article also influenced my beliefs in teaching by
posing the idea that schools must prepare students to be thinkers, problem solvers,
collaborators, wise consumers of information, and confident producers of
knowledge. It is our job as educators to prepare students for the real world and to
help them reach their full potential. Through the article “Professional Learning
Communities at School”, on the Public Schools of North Carolina Webpage, I also
learned that a professional learning community is a collegial group that
collaborates and discusses ideas and ways to improve student learning. Although
this did not greatly affect my classroom environment philosophy, I believe that my
future professional learning community will be a reliable asset to my future
teaching career.
I believe that children are like sponges. I plan to always have a positive
attitude and motivating response to student’s questions/ concerns. Children learn
Classroom Environment Philosophy

faster than adults and will naturally absorb the influences in their environment. I
will strive to always be a positive influence in my students’ lives.
I believe that children yearn to learn. Humans are curious creatures,
especially children! They will have many questions and become confused on many
things, I will always strive to provide my students with the correct information and
clear pathway to gain the answers they seek. If students ever ask me a question that
I do not know the answer to, I will make sure that I point them in the right
direction of someone (or something) that can. Also, by “yearn to learn” I mean that
children want to learn (and naturally will) without even realizing it.
I believe that with the proper instruction, anything is possible. There
may be many confused looks whenever I assign a difficult assignment. However,
with the proper instruction and necessary tools, students will be able to solve
almost any question that they are faced with (within reason).
I believe that most students learn best through hands-on activities. In
my classroom, I will provide many activities that make the students think beyond
their “limits”. I will try to maintain student’s interests in what they are learning.
Encouraging curiosity and questioning will make students more motivated to solve
the problem at hand.
I believe that students learn well through collaboration and group
discussions. I will provide my classroom with the opportunity to bounce their
ideas off of other students and gain new ideas/perspectives that they may not have
thought of in the first place. Group discussions and presentations will help students
come out of their “bubble” and become more comfortable speaking in front of
others. Also, they may gain new friendships with students that they have not met
before! (Friendships are an important aspect in a child’s life and last a lifetime.)
Classroom Environment Philosophy

Students and Guardians,

Welcome to English!

Dear Parents (and Curious Students),

Hello there! My name is Ms. Garland and I will be your child’s English teacher for the
20**- 20** school year. I am very enthused to have the opportunity to teach your child this
year. I am looking forward to the great educational experiences and collaborative classroom
creativity that lie ahead of us! Parents, I also look forward to hearing from you and working
together to ensure that your child has the best educational experience possible. Please, feel
free to contact me any time with questions or concerns!

My personal philosophy for my high school classroom is to provide students with the
building blocks to reach their full potential when dealing with English literature. I plan to have
hands-on (individual and group) activities to visually enhance students’ understanding of
complex concepts. By using discussion and collaborator methods, students will be able to share
ideas with others, self-enhance (support or edit) their own ideas, and become more confident
in their authentic responses; this will also help to build a sense of classroom unity and
community. I plan to provide a positive and judgment “free” classroom where students are able
to share their thoughts without the fear of being scrutinized by others.

I am a strong supporter of our school’s anti-bullying policy. Bullying of any kind, will not
be tolerated in my classroom. I like to establish a classroom as a safe space, where students are
able to express themselves in a comfortable environment. As for disruptive behavior; after the
class session, I will have a one-on-one conversation with the student. If the behavior continues,
I will take the proper action necessary (depending on the type of disruptive behavior) which
may include a parent/teacher conference or a meeting with the guidance counselor. If the
behavior still continues, the result will be a meeting with the principal to discuss further
Classroom Environment Philosophy

disciplinary action. All students will be treated equally when it comes to school policies.
However, I know that this will not be a problem in our upcoming school year!

I expect students to be prepared for class, considerate of others, submit assignments on

time, and active participants in classroom discussions and activities. Also, students are not
permitted to use electronic devices in class without an instructor’s permission. Electronic
devices being used without permission, may be confiscated and held by me for a class period or
turned into an administrator if it is being used inappropriately. Please encourage your student
to use their electronic devices respectfully. As parents of bright students, I recommend paying
attention to student due dates and study habits. If you are concerned of your student’s
academic progress, you are more than welcome to request a parent/teacher conference with
me.

I will give students paper progress reports 2-3 times each quarter. If your child is absent
from class that day, it must be personally requested. If your child has a specific learning or
language need, I am more than happy to provide them with assistance (extra test taking time,
receiving reading materials earlier, specific seating, tutoring time, etc.) I am here to help your
students bloom into their full potential!

Thank you for taking the lead in your child’s education. The involvement of student,
teachers, and administrators ensure a year of academic achievement and excellence!

Sincerely,

Jaclyn Garland

English Teacher at ______ High School

Email: jmgarlan@ncsu.edu

Contact Number: (864) 978-6933

Classroom Environment Philosophy

In conclusion, I believe that children are our future. Access to education

should be an equal opportunity, regardless of student race, ethnicity, behavior,
beliefs, or economic status. If all students are provided with proper and equitable
education, then all children will have the same opportunity to absorb and grow as
individuals.
According to the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards, the motto
“for every student in North Carolina, a knowledgeable, skilled compassionate
teacher...a star in every classroom”, really stands above the rest. As an educator of
secondary English Language Arts, I will provide students with a new perception of
learning and the associated school with a new vision of teaching. As mentioned in
my personal classroom environment philosophy, I plan to have hands-on and group
activities to visually enhance students’ understanding of complex concepts. By
using discussion and collaborator methods, students will be able to share ideas with
others, self-enhance (support or edit) their own ideas, and become more confident
in their authentic responses; this will also help to build a sense of classroom unity
and community. I strongly believe that collaboration and teamwork are strong
influences in student learning.
Also, I plan to establish a respectful environment for a diverse population of
students. Every student is a unique individual with distinct backgrounds, previous
experiences, and rare insights to approach how they learn. I plan to provide a
positive and judgment “free” classroom where students are able to share their
thoughts without the fear of being scrutinized by others. I am a strong supporter of
equality in education and I will ensure that my classroom environment celebrates
and explores diversity.
I am an emerging professional in the field of education. However, I have a
clear vision of what my future classroom environment will look like and how I will
establish my equitable beliefs in the classroom.