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Philosophy of Teaching
To be a teacher is far more complicated and involved
than simply conveying the knowledge of a subject to a child. It involves
caring, helping, improvement, attention, laughter, patience, understanding,
and many other essential qualities. It involves knowing a child and
building a relationship with them. In having a strong relationship
with a teacher, a child is more than likely to have a large amount of respect
for that teacher. Strong relationships are built in many ways: listening,
taking time to understand where a student’s academic standing is, and understanding
a little about their life outside of the classroom are among the methods
that can create relationships. In addition, environment has a lot
to do with establishing relationships. In my opinion, smaller classroom
size is essential in making strong relationships. Students should
be faced with a setting where they feel comfortable enough to express themselves
freely.
The most important thing a teacher can do is listen.
Children are extraordinary people. They tend to see things in a way
that adults cannot conceive. They know no boundaries and are very
innocent to the methods of the world. If you pay attention and listen,
you will learn more than you teach. Of course, children will not
realize this, but that is the beauty of it. If you sit back and think
of them as people with important things to say, you give them the opportunity
to have a voice and be heard. The old saying “Children should be
seen and not heard” is absurd. Children think and feel too and they
really want someone to listen to them. When they feel comfortable
with their teacher, they are more than likely going to speak up.
Children like to be heard. It makes them feel important. They
live in an adult world where adults have all the power. They can’t
make many decisions independently, and it is makes them feel valued when
they get to tell an adult what they think.
In order to effectively help a child excel academically
a teacher must take the time to understand his ability. Not all children
will function on the same academic level and this fact is something that
teachers should realize. Some children need more time to master a
subject than their fellow students do. A teacher should spend time
viewing assessment tests and other methods of viewing a child’s comprehension
in order to understand what that child needs. There are some children
who can work on an assignment alone while there are others who need assistance
with the assignment. Teachers must learn to distinguish the difference
in these students so they know whom with to spend extra time.
As for a child’s life outside the classroom, there
are not many ways that a teacher can do this without crossing a delicate
line. Obviously, teachers cannot be with all their students after
school knowing every detail of their life. However, things like Parent/Teacher
Association are a good way to learn more about the parents of a student.
If they are necessary, conferences that inform the parents of their children’s
academic situation could also be helpful. On a simple level, teachers
could learn about the students interested and hobbies outside of the classroom.
I significantly remember student-teaching under a teacher knew that some
of her student’s were Girl Scouts, some liked to go fishing, and some liked
to play Nintendo. She was able to discuss these things with her students
throughout the day and it was evident that the children responded to it.
The classroom environment is one of the most essential
parts of effective teaching. I prefer smaller classroom size because
it promotes intimacy among the students and the teacher. In larger
classrooms and schools, more time is spent on administration and discipline
rather than building relationships. Classrooms where students comfortably
know one another promote positive learning. In addition, it is important
to make their environment as creative as possible. A student’s creativity
should never be stifled. It should always be promoted so that the
student can expand their ideas and thoughts.
I have many theories concerning the appropriate and most effective
way to run a classroom. However, I think the most significant one
is that students and teachers should have strong independent relationships
where academic level and personal life is acknowledged and creativity is
encouraged. From my point of view, this is an effective way to stimulate
the minds of children.