My Personal Teaching Philosophy
“How I Am Changing the World One Learner at a Time.”
I believe that every child coming into my classroom is special. I believe that each learner brings his or her own strengths and uniqueness to the classroom. Learning is a complex process that is individual, content and context specific. As a teacher, I am attentive to these factors and working to be flexible by adapting my approaches according to the needs of learners, subject matter and learning setting. I am passionate about inquiry learning, learner-centered classroom, and collaborative learning and teaching. I believe that the best education is a result of good quality of learning where learners are valued and appreciated. It is where learners are given opportunities to express themselves and communicate their understanding of what they have learnt. The best education occurs when a collaborative teamwork happens between students, parents, teachers and the school community to help support the learners to achieve their learning goals.
First of all, I believe that learners learn best when they learn from what they have known or experienced. Inquiry is a powerful learning tool to help learners build their understanding and construct their existing knowledge, investigate and discover more information about the concepts learnt. It also provides opportunities for students to take action as well as to reflect on their learning. Inquiry is a vehicle for learners to make sense of the world around them. As a teacher, it is my role to facilitate the students’ learning by providing hands on education for my learners, driving student initiated actions and giving opportunities for students to think and reflect for their own learning. I am passionate about finding the most effective ways of stimulating and sustaining intellectual growth among those who enter my classroom. By providing engaging, relevant, challenging and significant activities to support students’ inquiry, students are able to be involved actively in their own learning. Students can see the real purpose of their learning and make connection to their prior knowledge and experience. Students also are able to come to understand more about their own process of learning and are given opportunities to process experiences in a range of ways. I also believe in the power of planning a challenging, purposeful and engaging learning engagement as well as rigorous assessment, as a part of the inquiry-learning journey so they are able to achieve their learning goals.
Second of all, learners learn best when they are given opportunities to be independent. I believe that when learning is learner- centered, students are likely to be more engaged and motivated. When students are valued and appreciated, they are also likely to perform and give out their best in their learning process. I believe that teachers have a vital role in developing and nurturing independent learners. I also believe it is crucial for teachers to cultivate learning partnerships with students. In my view, teaching is not only about instructing or imparting information to students as if their minds were waiting to be filled with my knowledge. Rather, teaching is about empowering students to take responsibility for their learning, inspiring courage to grow intellectually, cultivating curiosity, providing opportunities for developing relationships, clarifying values, uplifting the spirit and igniting action. As teachers, we can help students develop their sense of independence by teaching them how to learn for themselves and providing them opportunities to take responsibilities for their own learning.
Third of all, I believe that collaboration is one of important keys to help students achieve their learning goals. At school, it is best when the school provides time and opportunities for teachers to work together to tailor and design the best curriculum for students. As a teacher, we need to ensure that the curriculum aligns vertically and horizontally so that it provides continuity, significance and progress based on the students’ ability, age level, and learning interest. Teachers can work together to plan the learning engagement or possible assessment tasks for students. It is great if both homeroom teachers and single subject teachers can plan and work collaboratively throughout the units of inquiry. Next, It is also great for teachers to collaborate with parents to communicate the students’ progress so parents know how to support the kids at home. By maintaining good communication with the parents, the parents are more informed about their children and how to support them to achieve their learning goals.
all about learning... 