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My Teaching Philosophy
A good teacher is a lighthouse standing tall, shining a light to guide his students coming
via jet ski, dinghy, helicopter, yacht, speed boat or swimming, across the sea of darkness at their
own pace in search of knowledge. As the metaphor suggests teachers are facilitators of learning
who help students move from where they are to where they need to be using strategies best
suited to their abilities. Reflecting upon my initial teaching philosophy I realize how much it has
been influenced by my experiences as a student and a teacher over the years. Past classroom
experiences, my interactions with students and other teachers, the curriculum and societal
expectations have all contributed to shaping my philosophy about teaching and how I teach.
teaching the curriculum in a unilateral manner through rote learning to ensure that students’
performance met society’s traditional expectations of education. Throughout the years however
in response to changing student and societal demands I refined this approach. My current
philosophy and approach to teaching is now more closely aligned to progressivism because I
have a better understanding of the value of engaging students through interactive sessions and
teaching the curriculum in manner they can relate to through their everyday experiences.
One characteristic of perennialism that I have maintained however is the need for an
ordered classroom where the teacher is the authority figure. Throughout Secondary School it was
difficult for me to concentrate and learn in classes where teachers adopted laissez faire attitudes
because teaching was constantly interrupted by disruptive behavior. Learning from this
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experience my philosophy is that even when sessions are interactive and engaging, order should
be maintained and the teacher should always be respected. I use my interactive sessions to get to
know my students, bond with them and gain their trust and respect.
My philosophy has and continues to be focused on creating the best environment for
learning to take place. It is my belief that a classroom must be a safe and positive environment
where students can feel comfortable asking questions and engaging in lessons without being
found it difficult to learn in classes where teachers were overly strict and intimidating I am
whether they have learned and how much they have learned. In the past there have been
instances where I recognized students misunderstood a concept only while marking exam scripts
at the end of the term. In order to prevent this from recurring I now conduct formative
assessments during lessons to measure the extent to which students are learning.
within the education system. This philosophy translates into my emphasis on the need for
interactive classes within a safe and positive environment. Respect for the authority of teachers
within classrooms and continuous assessment are also hallmarks of my teaching philosophy.