Why Teach?

Teaching Philosophy

Ever since I decided I wanted to become a teacher the questions of why has followed. Every job interview, family member, friend, and even students have wanted to know the answer to this question. When I first entered the teaching program and even while looking for my first teaching job, I did not feel like I had a great answer. I would respond with the go to "I like working with kids," which I modified to include my coaching experience, and include something about every day being different from the next. While all of these are fine answers I found myself wanting a more fulfilling answer. As I progressed in my education and career my response became more tailored to social studies in wanting to help create global citizens who are ready to participate in the world after high school. Reflecting on this questions I still hold closely to the response of working with children. However, I did not have names and faces yet to drive my passion and shape how I conduct the classroom.

Not Your Typical Job

As I extend my career in education, I have learned I am both right and wrong in my reasoning in pursuing teaching to avoid the normal 9-5 job. Middle schoolers do a fantastic job keeping me on my toes and changing from one day to the next. However, as with any job things tend to repeat. Every year kids get in trouble, don’t do their homework, high achieving students need to be pushed more, and I still hate Mondays. While these overarching themes tend to be the same, the individual students are the reason why I became a teacher. Teaching gives me the ability to find out why students are struggling and how to help them. Each year brings a different group of students with different backgrounds, personalities, and strengths. It is always a complex puzzle to figure out how to help and motivate as many students as possible.

Lasting Impact

My philosophy for teaching includes student achievement, engagement, and relationship building. Now that I have some experience teaching I have a better answer to the question of why. I teach for the Arleens and Patiences, the Gavins and Masons, the Anthonys and Teyas. I teach for high achievers, kids who need extra help, or just a place to hang out before and after school. Every new step I take to increase my development as a teacher is for the kids, the ones I have already met and the ones I will meet. I want to be the teacher who can provide opportunity, acceptance, and security to as many students as I can.

School Should be Fun

School shouldn't drive kids away. In my classroom, I want to create a welcoming atmosphere of achievement. I don't think I will ever change the mentality of school being boring or a chore for all of my students but I hope I can change it for most of my students. Too often I hear students complaining about too much homework, tests, or not having enough time to finish assignments. My goal for my students is to create a fun and productive work environment for them. Knowing I am working with adolescent teenagers I do not want to overwhelm them with too much work outside of the classroom. While students are in my room I want to be as productive with my time and their time as I can be. Achievement should be something all student feel in school. This means different thing for different students, some want to attend Ivy League schools, while others just want to pass the class. I do my best to create lesson plans which are engaging, entertaining, and supportive to all my students. Because of the demand for data, standards, and test results I believe that often times the population of schools get lost and pushed aside. At the end of the day, I am working with children with different backgrounds, goals, and whose attitudes change daily. Taking a step back from another assignment and giving them time in class to express ideas, ask questions, and complete their work is vital.

Relationships

I've always been good at developing relationships and have carried this ability into my teaching. Entering education I thought a specific group of students would easier to connect with but as I continue in education I have found I have been able to connect with students from all walks of life. Relationship building has always been my biggest focus in any sort of educational setting. I want students to be comfortable asking questions, discussing, and advocating for themselves. Building relationships can come from saying "hi" to students in the hallway, listening to their weekend stories, or providing them a place to do homework after school. Students are more willing to accomplish tasks, listen, and engage in learning if they know the teacher cares for them. Keeping my classroom light and fun allows more students to engage, participate, and take control of their education.