|
|
|
|
My Teaching Philosophy Cortney Nagler “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” -Albert Einstein- There are a plethora of reasons why my life has guided me towards teaching the minds of our future generations. Education has always been a huge part of my life, and it is the one thing that I can never seem to get enough of. As one Latin proverb states: “By learning you will teach; by teaching you will understand.” As an educator I know the importance of always seeking out additional knowledge, and through my experiences and gained insights I will be able to educate and guide my students. I know that my philosophy of education will change and grow over time, but the one thing that will never change is my dedication to being an advocate and inspirer to all students I encounter. When it comes to my own education I have always been an over-achiever, and with teaching the same is true. I also understand that not every student is going to have that same mentality, but my goal is to allow each and every student to find what truly makes them happy. Through the safe environment I have in my classroom and the creativity I incorporate in my lessons I hope to at least spark an interest in every student. One thing I am known for is being extremely open-minded. I never hinder a student’s creativity especially when it comes to projects. I believe that if a teacher does hinder an idea, right then and there you are slowly taking away that student’s imaginative instinct. I want my students to not only learn in my classroom, but find meaning in what they are learning. So many times I have heard students say, “Why do we have to do this?” “Am I ever going to use this again?” I hope that by clearly addressing those questions in my objectives that those questions won’t even be asked in my class. As a theatrical performer myself I know that students today are entertained on a daily basis. From television, ipods, computers, video games, and everything else that comes with the development of technology, I know how uninteresting school may seem to students at times. This is why I thoroughly incorporate technology in my lessons; I entertain them in an educational way. I want my classroom to feel safe and secure. Each and every student no matter race, ethnicity, and differences in backgrounds and experiences are welcomed and embraced. I know that in junior high and high school, students can be very fragile and vulnerable. Bullying, and inappropriate language is something that I do not tolerate. During the first week of school I plan on doing an entire lesson on bullying and the effects it can have on person. I also plan on letting them know exactly what I stand for and how they will conduct themselves in my classes. This is the foundational work I will lay for them at the beginning of the year, to set the stage for the rest of the year. Many of my ideas on discipline comes from, “Discipline with Purpose” by Paula Lenz and Barbara Vasiloff. I will have a set of rules enforced in my class but what I hope to teach the students is self-discipline. That is, that they control their own destiny and have the ability to wait, restrain, and maintain self-control. As William Bennett puts it: “In self-discipline one makes a ‘disciple’ of oneself. One is one’s own teacher, trainer, coach and disciplinarian.” As a teacher I want to begin the year more teacher-centered, but through my direction I want them to ultimately become educators and leaders themselves. “We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own,” Ben Sweetland. When I am teaching a class and I see the students’ eyes light up and the idea churning in their heads, my day is so much brighter. I want to be that spark, that inspiration, and that teacher that every student trusts, respects, and looks forward to coming to class. |
|
Last updated: 03/29/2008 IMPORTANT NOTE: This Site contains links to third-party Web sites that are not under the control of College of Saint Mary. CSM makes no representations whatsoever about any other Web site to which you may have access through this Site.
|
