Teaching Philosophy
What Creates an Outstanding Teacher?
In the words of esteemed
politician and novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton, “The best teacher is the one who
suggests rather than dogmatizes, and inspires his listener with the wish to
teach himself.” I believe this statement holds strong for all aspects and professions
in life, but is of utmost importance to the aspiration of an educator. It is a part of human nature to strive for
success, and in creating an outstanding teacher there are key personal
qualities that lead this success. From
my personal experiences, I have found these qualities to be self-discipline,
possessing a positive attitude, demonstrating passion, and having a sense of
humor. These are qualities that I
possess and continue to strive for throughout my life.
Self-discipline is a difficult personal trait that is developed overtime through dedication and consistency in behavior. As educators, we must first set high standards for ourselves in order to strive for excellence. As we hold ourselves to a higher standard, we may also raise the bar for our students. The demonstration of “practicing what you preach” is evident to students and the confidence that is displayed through dedication is necessary in the instruction of others. As we display consistence and discipline we can better request that of our students in their behavior and dedication to their learning process, which will in turn develop their own self-discipline that will last for a lifetime.
A positive attitude is necessary for all aspects of life, but is crucial to teaching. The necessity to bring our “A-Game” everyday to work is first shown through our attitude. There are always challenges and unexpected obstacles to overcome when teaching, and in my experiences, attitude defines the outcome of these challenges and obstacles. A positive attitude is a teaching necessity not only for the teacher, but also for the students. Creating a positive learning environment is essential to having the best experiences for the student. If the teacher demonstrates a positive attitude, the student will most likely replicate the behavior and display an eagerness to learn during the course of the class.
Passion for people is a quality that all involved in education need to possess. As a teacher, we have relations not only with students but with faculty, administration, parents, and community. It is of the utmost importance that we are passionate about helping people and aiding in their journey to reach their maximum potential. Passion is not a learned quality through classes or books, but is instilled intrinsically in all teachers, and can be seen and felt by students, faculty, and administration and drives us all to succeed in different ways. Passion drives me to teach and is the backbone for which all of the other qualities may be built upon.
Last but not least, I feel that a sense of humor is not only a quality of an outstanding teacher, but in some amount is necessary for teacher survival. Children are unpredictable and it is impossible to have an answer for every question that could be asked during class, or be prepared for all things that could occur. There will be mistakes during teaching and things that occur that the only thing that we can do is laugh. A sense of humor makes the students comfortable in the classroom and more willing to participate in the class, which ultimately leads to a better learning experience.
The qualities discussed above are the most important qualities of an outstanding educator. These qualities are not acquired by reading books or articles, but are planted in all those who pursue education as a profession. Edward Bulwer-Lytton may not have been a teacher, but I believe that his words align with the standard of teaching and the self-actualization that develops through these qualities of teaching. I encompass all of these important qualities and with the right exposure, I will develop into an outstanding teacher with your school district.
Self-discipline is a difficult personal trait that is developed overtime through dedication and consistency in behavior. As educators, we must first set high standards for ourselves in order to strive for excellence. As we hold ourselves to a higher standard, we may also raise the bar for our students. The demonstration of “practicing what you preach” is evident to students and the confidence that is displayed through dedication is necessary in the instruction of others. As we display consistence and discipline we can better request that of our students in their behavior and dedication to their learning process, which will in turn develop their own self-discipline that will last for a lifetime.
A positive attitude is necessary for all aspects of life, but is crucial to teaching. The necessity to bring our “A-Game” everyday to work is first shown through our attitude. There are always challenges and unexpected obstacles to overcome when teaching, and in my experiences, attitude defines the outcome of these challenges and obstacles. A positive attitude is a teaching necessity not only for the teacher, but also for the students. Creating a positive learning environment is essential to having the best experiences for the student. If the teacher demonstrates a positive attitude, the student will most likely replicate the behavior and display an eagerness to learn during the course of the class.
Passion for people is a quality that all involved in education need to possess. As a teacher, we have relations not only with students but with faculty, administration, parents, and community. It is of the utmost importance that we are passionate about helping people and aiding in their journey to reach their maximum potential. Passion is not a learned quality through classes or books, but is instilled intrinsically in all teachers, and can be seen and felt by students, faculty, and administration and drives us all to succeed in different ways. Passion drives me to teach and is the backbone for which all of the other qualities may be built upon.
Last but not least, I feel that a sense of humor is not only a quality of an outstanding teacher, but in some amount is necessary for teacher survival. Children are unpredictable and it is impossible to have an answer for every question that could be asked during class, or be prepared for all things that could occur. There will be mistakes during teaching and things that occur that the only thing that we can do is laugh. A sense of humor makes the students comfortable in the classroom and more willing to participate in the class, which ultimately leads to a better learning experience.
The qualities discussed above are the most important qualities of an outstanding educator. These qualities are not acquired by reading books or articles, but are planted in all those who pursue education as a profession. Edward Bulwer-Lytton may not have been a teacher, but I believe that his words align with the standard of teaching and the self-actualization that develops through these qualities of teaching. I encompass all of these important qualities and with the right exposure, I will develop into an outstanding teacher with your school district.