My Teaching Philosophy - Keep it Fresh!

My teaching philosophy is slowly changing and maturing, and I am sure it will continue to do so the rest of my teaching career.

However, I know there are a few ideas within my teaching philosophy that will NEVER change. The first one is to ALWAYS be a good role model for the students. This is so important, to me. To achieve this, there is a certain formula one must follow (But, of course, this is just my personal opinion). There are two parts to this formula. Part one is every teacher needs to have flair, something that is going to attract the students to your personality. What do I mean by "flair," you ask? Flair is just something that is unique to your personality as a teacher. For some people, it's sarcasm and making the students laugh. For others, it's your occasional rapping to Run DMC during class. Whatever floats your boat - what matter's is that the students are going to enjoy it. This will pull the students in, and then comes part two. Part two is becoming the best role model you can be. Dress professionally, be polite to everybody, constantly think about the image you are portraying, because the young boy/girl is going to be looking up to you.

Another idea of mine that will never change is that class should be FUN. I never learn in classes that are horribly boring. I don't know anyone who does either, so obviously boring does not work in the classroom. Teenagers need to move and have frequent transitions during class, and fun activities should be incorporated with the learning material. This is one of the best things about being a teacher is that you can BE CREATIVE! The students should be smiling and happy. Of course, not every activity can be a blast, but make those activities quick and painless. Get the dull, activities out of the way and then let the students do something fun.

In addition, I believe in REWARDS, REWARDS, REWARDS. I already know one way I am going to reward my students and I am super excited about it. As I found with observing, students really do work for rewards. I also got a similar idea from Clark's Essential 55. I love to cook/bake. It's a obsession of mine. In my free time, I research recipes, and the food network is always on TV at my place. My plan is to reward my students with baked goods! I am hoping that this will encourage them to turn in their homework everyday. On the first day of my first year of teaching, I am going to inform my students of my obsession. I will also inform them that if every student brings in their homework everyday that I assign it each week, I will bake something delicious for them that Friday. I am going all out with these baked goods too, none of that store bought junk. I'm talking everything homemade from cakes, pastries, brownies, dessert bars, cookies, donuts, cupcakes etc. Each week it will be something totally different to keep it exciting. Will it work? I don't know, but for the record, it worked for Clark.

I also hope to integrate as many learning styles as I can into my classroom. This is so important for every teacher to do. This also offers creative routes for teachers. A teacher's job is to make learning easy and accessible to the students, not hard, which is why incorporating all the learning styles is vital. I think projects are a great way for students to learn their own way, especially if you leave it open to them on what they want to do with their project. They will learn the information themselves that's easiest for them. Again, this is a great way to keep class fun and fresh. I will never get into the rhythm of just doing a lecture everyday. Not only, will that make my students lives boring, but it will make my life boring as well. No teacher should be afraid to experiment and try new learning techniques in the classroom.

In conclusion, being a teacher is about you adapting for your students, not your students adapting for you. Each year is going to bring about a new batch of students. That's why I called my teaching philosophy "Keep it Fresh," because each year, month, week, day, and even hour your students are going to be evolving. A teacher should stay "fresh" and up to date with Middle School student's best interests. Not only, in the way that each individual student learns, but what music they like, what sports they enjoy, what hobbies they partake in etc. Teachers should allow themselves to relate to their students, because your students will feel like you truly understand them. What is more rewarding than a student being able to feel they can trust you as a teacher, a role model, and a friend? (Maybe a homemade chocolate Eclair? ;) )