What is your teaching philosophy?

I am a teacher who believes in the power of the process, not the outcome. I do not believe in having grades and outcomes drive my curriculum; rather, I believe in teaching in such a way that students become intellectually curious so that their enthusiasm for learning becomes the reward in itself. I am a teacher who believes that when students approach education with the right perspective--with an open mind and an honest desire to learn and challenge themselves--the grades take care of themselves. When I help students approach learning simply for the joy of it, their excitement and curiosity become the motivation, not the grades at the end of the quarter. When taught effectively, literature allows students to confront difficult issues they face in their lives and discover answers to questions that are important to them. I believe in creating a classroom that is a safe space; students know when they walk in my classroom door that they can share their ideas freely without fear of being ridiculed or judged. When students feel comfortable in my classroom, it facilitates good discussion because the students understand that we are all on the same team. The classroom is a place to share ideas respectfully; it is a place for students and teacher, alike, to question what they think they know so that they leave the classroom with a fresh perspective on literature and on life in general. A student who has an effective teacher will leave feeling like they have a better understanding of who they are--not only as a student, but as a son or daughter, community member, sibling, and friend.