Personal Teaching Philosophy

I am a native of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa where I grew up in a small town,

and lived on a farm. I currently attend the Education program at the
University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. I am entering the teaching
profession because becoming a classroom teacher is something I have
wanted to do from a young age. I have always thoroughly enjoyed school,
and have a passion for learning new things. As a teacher, my goal is to
transfer this excitement for discovery and learning to my students through a
well-designed curriculum, inquiry-based activities, and challenging material. I
hope to be a role model and inspirational adult figure in the lives of children,
and impact those who may not have had a chance if it werent for someone
like me. As I work through my classes and field experience, and continue to
learn about teaching, I also continue to form my personal philosophy on
teaching.
Based on my time spent in the College of Education at UNI; my classes,
field experiences, and work with students, professors, and parents, I have
developed a sense of what kind of a teacher I want to be. I have developed a
personal philosophy about teaching based on the combination of experiences
in my career thus far. My beliefs about teaching are based on the INSTACC
standards, and are built from 5 of these standards in particular.

I believe that a warm classroom environment is the first key to success.

I will work directly with my students beginning from day one on creating an

inclusive and welcoming environment through establishing class

expectations and coaching them on what makes a good classroom citizen. I
will work with the school administration and other staff to ensure that I am
covering the correct curriculum and teaching at an appropriate pace of
schedule, and I will collaborate with specialists to find the best solutions
learning techniques for any special needs students in order to maximize their
learning and success in the classroom. In addition, I will collaborate with the
parents of the students by communicating often about the things we care
accomplishing in the classroom and ways that they can be of assistance at
home.
It is substantially important to be able to plan lessons and be familiar
with the curriculum and content Im teaching to a point that I can teach it in
various ways, adapt the material to meet all students needs in a moments
notice, as well as apply the information across all subject areas. I will work
ahead in lesson planning in order to familiarize myself with the content and
curriculum, then develop the best plan of differentiation based on what I
know about the particular students in my classroom, and create ways to
relate information from one content area to another. In addition to
familiarizing myself with content areas, I also will become familiar with the
students in my classroom and their families as far as what prior knowledge
they have, their cultural characteristics, and what community they are a part
of. In order to accomplish this familiarity with both the curriculum and
content and with the background of my students, I will use organizational

skills and tools to keep myself on track, prepared, and always planning
ahead.
I will become familiar with the various learning styles of the students
in my classroom and use what I have learned from Howard Gardners
Multiple Intelligence theory to differentiate instruction and create lessons
that present the material in numerous ways. By carefully planning lessons
that cater to various learning styles, every child in the class will have an
opportunity to learn in way that works best for them. Besides using
differentiation, I will encourage students to excel in their strength areas, as
well as challenge them to better themselves in areas of their weaknesses.
In order to provide the best curriculum and overall learning experience
for my students, I will stay up to date on new teaching practices as well as
the technology and materials that support them. In order to accomplish this,
I will attend teacher workshops, read blogs, and talk with fellow colleagues to
find out what practices are working best. In addition to being a life -long
learner I will also continue the use of ethical practice. I will be conscious of
my actions as a teacher, and make choices that will positively affect the
students, the school, and the community. I will be a responsible role model to
students by exemplifying honesty and integrity in all I do.
As a teacher, I will use the leadership skills I have developed from
various jobs and field experiences such as communication, collaboration,
adaptability, and organizing. I will continue to grow and develop these skills
so I can become more effective in my leadership abilities. I have confidence

that l can use these skills in my classroom in order to be the leader my

students need, as well as with parents and co-workers within the school. I am
excited for the opportunity to step up and to take on new lead roles. It is
important to take on these lead roles, and to collaborate with others,
because together everyone learns from what each other has to offer.

I believe that there are a number a number of things I must be aware

of and strive for in order to be a successful and effective classroom teacher. I
will create a caring and welcoming classroom environment for my student
that is conducive to learning, and teach students to be good citizens of the
school and the community. I need to be knowledgeable about the curriculum,
and continually acquire more knowledge on the best practices for teaching. I
believe in collaborating with fellow teachers, administrators, and parents in
order to learn from others and better my overall ideas. Above all, I believe in
the importance of upholding myself to ethical practices as a teacher and
proving to be an honest role model for my students. As a teacher I will make
choices that will positively affect my students, the school, and the
community.
Fulfilling my dream, and assuming the responsibility of becoming a
classroom teacher is not something I take lightly. My classes at UNI, as well
as my various field experiences, have taught me valuable concepts about
teaching. With all of my experience in education combined, I have been able
to build a solid personal philosophy on teaching. I want the students in my

classroom to have the best learning experience, and I can provide that by
following my beliefs on teaching.