Teaching Philosophy - What I Believe
"A child's world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. […] I wish I could give a sense of wonder to each child in the world, so indestructible that it would last throughout life, as an unfailing antidote to the boredom and disenchantments of later years, the sterile preoccupation with artificial things, the alienation from the sources of our strength."
From The Sense of Wonder (1965) by Rachel Carson |
I believe that all children are naturally curious and eager to learn, and that it is their right to pursue their questions and make meaning of the world in a supportive, collaborative, and joyful environment. It is essential that we nurture children’s innate sense of wonder. Simultaneously, we must nurture children’s bravery and resilience; students should have the opportunity to learn that achievement feels sweeter after a struggle. Children are capable of extraordinary accomplishments, and as an educator it is a privilege to facilitate, scaffold, and celebrate their growth.
I believe that children should explore integrity, personal and communal responsibility, and civic engagement together as a community through the lens of empathy. Students should learn that they are responsible for using the strength of their voices to make the world a better place, both on a micro and macro scale. Students should feel safe and empowered to express their own beliefs, and grounded enough to embrace differences.
I believe that it is essential that educators lead the way towards shaping a more just, inclusive, and unbiased society. It is only by prioritizing social justice work and activism within the framework of every child’s formative school experiences that we can expect to see meaningful changes within our society at large. I believe that we teachers must create culturally responsive classrooms in which everyone is celebrated, in which we examine racism, prejudicial behavior, and biases, and in which all community members know that they can bring all of their identities into the classroom.
I believe that as educators, it is our responsibility to share our excitement for learning with our students. Educators should explore and learn alongside their students and from their students. I also believe that educators should be deeply curious about their students and should honor the wealth of diverse experiences and knowledge that students bring with them. I believe that educators should strive to continually grow and learn with a community of collaborative, supportive professionals who want to challenge the status quo together.
I believe that all children should be treated with the gentleness, care, and deep sense of appreciation that I want for my own children. I believe every child should burst into the classroom with eagerness every morning and return home brimming with accomplishment every afternoon. I believe that school should feel like the happiest place a child can be.
I want my students to be excited by new ideas, to love learning, to question everything and everyone with a healthy degree of skepticism, and to know that their thoughts and feelings matter deeply. I want my students to feel safe and cared for while at school, by both their teachers and by their peers. I want my students to dive into their passions and to fearlessly explore new areas of growth. I want to help my students develop powerful, positive narratives about themselves as learners and doers. I want my students to feel empowered to transform the world to transform the world for good and to help them develop the tools to do so.
I believe that children should explore integrity, personal and communal responsibility, and civic engagement together as a community through the lens of empathy. Students should learn that they are responsible for using the strength of their voices to make the world a better place, both on a micro and macro scale. Students should feel safe and empowered to express their own beliefs, and grounded enough to embrace differences.
I believe that it is essential that educators lead the way towards shaping a more just, inclusive, and unbiased society. It is only by prioritizing social justice work and activism within the framework of every child’s formative school experiences that we can expect to see meaningful changes within our society at large. I believe that we teachers must create culturally responsive classrooms in which everyone is celebrated, in which we examine racism, prejudicial behavior, and biases, and in which all community members know that they can bring all of their identities into the classroom.
I believe that as educators, it is our responsibility to share our excitement for learning with our students. Educators should explore and learn alongside their students and from their students. I also believe that educators should be deeply curious about their students and should honor the wealth of diverse experiences and knowledge that students bring with them. I believe that educators should strive to continually grow and learn with a community of collaborative, supportive professionals who want to challenge the status quo together.
I believe that all children should be treated with the gentleness, care, and deep sense of appreciation that I want for my own children. I believe every child should burst into the classroom with eagerness every morning and return home brimming with accomplishment every afternoon. I believe that school should feel like the happiest place a child can be.
I want my students to be excited by new ideas, to love learning, to question everything and everyone with a healthy degree of skepticism, and to know that their thoughts and feelings matter deeply. I want my students to feel safe and cared for while at school, by both their teachers and by their peers. I want my students to dive into their passions and to fearlessly explore new areas of growth. I want to help my students develop powerful, positive narratives about themselves as learners and doers. I want my students to feel empowered to transform the world to transform the world for good and to help them develop the tools to do so.