Teaching Philosophy Statement 1

Teaching Philosophy Statement

Elizabeth Cuatecontzi

Cal State University of Dominguez Hills Carson, CA

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Teaching Statement

One of the perks of an academic life is the opportunity to interact with young and bright

students most of whom are at the threshold of stepping into the real world. Every child should

have the right to learn and get a quality education. Every child that enters into the classroom

should feel safe and comfortable. It should be an environment full of nurturing and enriching.

Teaching focuses on; each individual child and his/her educational needs, the teaching strategies

to help the child achieve his/her highest potential, the development of positive character traits

which are essential in becoming a productive citizen in today's society, and parental involvement

in their child's mental, physical and emotional development. It gives me immense satisfaction

and joy that I will have the privilege to take part in the initial stages of their journey. It will also

provide me a platform for improving my own skills both in terms of expressing myself.

Vision

What makes a great teacher? I believe that the transformative power of an effective

teacher is something almost all of us have experienced and have understood on a personal level.

If we were particularly fortunate, we had numerous exceptional teachers who made school an

exciting and interesting place. Those teachers possessed a passion for the subjects that they

taught and genuine care for the students with whom they worked. They inspired us to play with

ideas, think deeply about the subject matter, take on more challenging work, and even pursue

careers in a particular field of study. A teacher should be aware of his/her students' emotional,

social, psychological, and physical development as well as their cognitive growth. According to

Ladson-Billings, “Similarly, interaction within the community provides rich, multicultural

experiences to young minds”(1995,p.160). To this end, a teacher should view parents and

community members as true parents in the educational process. They provide a motivational
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framework for each learning opportunity. I would like to strive to motivate and engage all my

students in learning rather than simply accepting that some students cannot be engaged and are

destined to do poorly. I believe every student is capable of achieving success at school and I will

do all that I can to find ways of making each student successful.

Mission

Individualized instruction is an integral strategy to aid children with different learning

preferences. In order to meet individual challenges, lessons must be structured into learning

modalities by incorporating auditory, kinesthetic, and visual techniques. Applying a variety of

approaches to the learning process is equally important, Use of cooperative learning strategies,

integration of technology into the classroom, as well as guided individual instruction are all

necessary to provide an environment where children will use self-discovery and a hands-on

approach to learning.

Learning is a means of assessment; assessment drives instruction. Assessment resembles

good instruction when it occurs during typical learning activities. In order to facilitate learning I

will involve students in the process of assessment by showing them rubrics of their work, giving

them a self-check and self-evaluation exercise, and have them learn self-appraisal. This will help

students develop the ability to judge their own accomplishment and to set goals for themselves.

Classroom organization is also a key concept to consider when teaching. If students are in

a classroom that is unorganized or set up in a way which hinders learning, it is not a good

situation for anyone. I would find creative, new ways to have the room set up and to help my

students learn. For instance, “we put them in groups of four with a supply area in the middle of

each... We tried groupings as heterogeneous as possible, mixing kids who were stronger in math

with those who were weaker”(Wasserman, 2008,p.17). I like her idea of grouping the students
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that are having difficulties with students who are stronger in that certain subject. Students will

feel more comfortable asking one another questions rather than asking the teacher. I believe this

is a great strategy for the classroom organization. I also believe in teaching content that is

meaningful, applicable, and inviting to students. If they do not see the point of the subject matter

then they will not be interested in it. In 2007, Peterson found that “the challenge is for teachers to

make connections between what the students talk about and the curriculum and broader

society”(p.29). If students are not interested in the topic it is our job to make it fun and exciting

for them to want to learn. I also believe that high energy levels and a positive attitude from the

teacher are key elements to a successful learning environment.

Learning should be fun and exciting. My classroom will be an inviting and safe place

where children will feel comfortable, and love to learn. The most rewarding aspects of teaching

are the self-satisfaction and fulfillment, which come from having the opportunity of providing

learning opportunities and sharing my knowledge with students, parents and colleagues, as well

as observing the children grow academically. The appreciation shown by the parents by either a

phone call, notes or visit make this profession very rewarding.

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References

Au, W., Bigelow, B., & Karp, S. (2007). Rethinking our classrooms, volume 1: Teaching for

equity and justice. Milwaukee, WI: Rethinking Schools.

Ladson‐ Billings, G. (1995). But that's just good teaching! The case for culturally relevant

pedagogy. Theory Into Practice, 34(3), 159-165. doi:10.1080/00405849509543675

Wasserman, L. (2008, September 10). A Marriage Made in Math Class. Retrieved October 24,

2016, from http://www.edweek.org/tsb/articles/2008/09/10/01math.h02.html