What is your teaching philosophy?

As a student teacher candidate, my teaching philosophy is a based off of a humanist style of teaching and involves the minimal use of power, an indirect approach toward teaching. I believe that students can encourage and contribute to their own growth and my goal is to facilitate the discussion in a way that provokes student learning and discussion. I also believe that it is essential to have a classroom environment in which students are allowed equal opportunity to give opinions in class. It’s important that students have routine protocol in grading and assignment due dates, and my goal as a tutor is to provide well-known structure of tutoring routine from day one. Students will know the routine to adhere to, though I will be flexible and understanding to students’ needs. I believe successful teaching involves assignments and activities that focus on learning goals, but that take into account students’ interests. My role as an educator is to persuade students into learning through their personalization of content and through my own passion for the subject. My approach to teaching has been influenced by Monte Syrie, my Sophomore Language Arts teacher, who, through encouraging us to learn, prioritized students’ needs and recognized them as individuals instead of treating them like children. I believe that effective teaching begins with respect toward students, which reciprocates respect toward the teacher. When I begin teaching I will express that the classroom goal is to learn, that there are rules that need to be followed, but that no matter the success or defeat of a student in class, I still believe in them and I still care for them. The three most important traits in my teaching philosophy are a passion and knowledge of the content, an empathy for students, and structure that encourages growth. Through my knowledge of subject content and skill in producing a learning environment, I believe that students will learn if they have interesting and tangible goals, and that you care for and respect them.

What might you do in a typical first session with a student?

In the first session with a student, I would introduce myself, connect with the student, and then go over whether they need continual help or if they need one-time specific help on a certain assignment or set of assignments. We would then start discussing what the student needs help with and go step-by-step into the assignment and exactly where the student is stumbling. Usually I'll prompt the questions that lead to the answer, though if the child need help reaching that answer, sometimes I'll just tell them and quiz them at the end of the session so that they remember. If that approach doesn't seem to make sense to the student, we'll work through example problems and questions in order to get the process memorized for the real assignments. I'm great with study tips and habits that contribute to student success and grades and am more than happy to help the student stay organized.