What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that teaching is one of the most important careers in this world. Teachers are the ones responsible for teaching, guiding, and coaching the next generations of children. They prepare their groups of students for the career and life paths ahead of them, no matter where each child may go. My teaching philosophy revolves around the belief that each child has the ability to learn and accomplish great things with the knowledge they gain in the classroom. It is important to take into account the different backgrounds, obstacles, and learning styles that may be apparent amongst the students of the classroom in order to provide the best fit practices to reach and teach every student. Every child deserves the chance to succeed, and that can be achieved by first having their needs met in the learning environment. Teachers do not teach with the hope of learning occurring within the walls of their classroom but truly pursue the moments of enlightenment and realization. Being able to not only witness but assist the moments of epiphany when a student has fully constructed his or her understanding on a concept or idea is one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching. Assisting a child in their desire to learn and accomplish all he or she sets his or her mind to is even more fulfilling. It is my goal to help my students feel proud of their successes by setting goals and expectations without leaving them overwhelmed and discouraged. Teaching is not just a calling but a passion that requires hard work, and dedication, but also respect, kindness, and love. I hope that I can provide every child I have the privilege of teaching with these experiences and qualities to encourage and help him or her pursue his or her true potential. I have always had a passion of making an impact in our world and it is my goal as I move forward in my teaching career to touch the lives of those around me. I plan to make student teaching my first priority, and I am ready to be fully committed to the students, classroom, and school in which I am placed in order to create the most beneficial experience and semester possible. I aspire to be the best educator, teacher, and mentor to my future students that I can be, which means that every day I will strive to learn something new just as I expect from my students.

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

In a typical first session with a student, it will be my main goal to assess what the student already knows about the topic and what they do not. With a good foundation of the student's knowledge and ability, I will be able to move forward more successfully. Just as if I were teaching a lesson in my future classroom, I would continuously check for understanding throughout the course of the session.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I will help students become independent learners by providing them with activities that both challenge and encourage the student to keep working. I will never take the struggle of the student away, because that is where I feel the most learning is accomplished. However, I will guide the student through reflective questions that push the student further along rather than giving the student all the answers and taking away their learning experience.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would do my best to relate the topics at hand with a topic that the student is interested in. If a student is having difficulty staying motivated in math but they really like baseball, it would be helpful to relate the math problems to situations that relate to baseball in order to help build interest.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

When a student has difficulty learning a certain concept or skill, it is best to try to reach the student through a variety of strategies. The one you may be presenting the information to the student could be hard for the student to grasp, but they may be able to understand if you frame or pose the concept differently. I also think it is beneficial to hone in on where the difficulty lies. By combating the original misconception or disconnection, you are able to get to the root of the problem and work past it to create a learning experience.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?

I feel the best way to help get the student excited and engaged in a subject is to find ways to relate the subject to their personal life or topics that interest them. This could include creating problem situations that deal both with the content area and a favorite hobby of the student.