Running Head: TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Im a Teacher
Valerie Martinez
University of La Verne

Running Head: TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Im a Teacher
If there is one thing I have learned from my time spent preparing to be a future
educator, it is first and foremost that teaching should always revolve around the needs
of my students. What seems to have been forgotten is that a test is an assessment of
what a child has learned and not an indicator of their worth. In the past, material taught
in the classroom has been more focused on regurgitating facts and out of the fear of
performing low on standardized tests. The problem thus arose that students were not
really learning anything new and not receiving a quality education. Thankfully, changes
have been made with the implementation of Common Core State Standards which aim
to create deeper, richer, and more relevant instruction for students. Now more than ever
there is a focus on key knowledge and skill, including communication, collaboration,
critical thinking and creativity.
In this changing world it is vital to keep up with the times and I intend to structure
my teaching around these new standards. The goal of teachers should be change
childrens minds, but what sets the great teachers apart from the others are the ones
who do so by making learning memorable. My goal with every lesson plan will be to
create active purposeful learning and to always keep in mind the impact it will have on
my students. To me being a teacher is realizing that I hold the keys to my students
future and that education is something that should be taken seriously. No test could
ever amount to a student finally understanding a concept they have been struggling
with, or having thought-provoking discussions in class. This is what learning is truly
about, constantly questioning the world around us and the search for truth. Another truth
I hold dear to my heart is that every student is unique in their own way and that their

Running Head: TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

differences should not be seen as disadvantages, but rather opportunities to learn from
multiple perspectives. Masterpieces reflect individual creativity, and masterpiece
lessons dont paint all children with the same brush. Students should be treated as the
originals they were born to be. Equal instruction in not fair. Differentiation is about
teaching individuals differently for the sake of justice. Regardless of whether or not one
my students has ADHD, is an ESL, or is gifted in one of the areas of multiple
intelligences, my responsibility as a teacher will be to ensure that all my students are
receiving equal opportunities to learn.
Along with being aware of my students capabilities, I hope to create a classroom
environment that is not only welcoming, but caters to my students creativity and
diversity. The diversity of my students plays a significant part in the way they view the
world, but I also want them to come to know and appreciate the many vibrant cultures
that thrive in our world today. I will make an effort to ensure that all cultures are being
represented and incorporate learning materials from a variety of different perspectives
and ethnic authors. It is important for students to realize that the history that has been
passed down is through somebody elses perspective and to always remember that
there are multiple sides to every story.
Some examples of ways in which I would integrate diversity within my classroom
could be reading a passage from a female author, or through the eyes of a slave to
instill the belief that everybody has their own story and part to play in the world.
Ensuring a positive social-learning environment in classroom all comes down to giving
students the ability to be in control of how they acquire knowledge through their
interactions with the world around them. To quote Jean Piaget, children develop an

Running Head: TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

understanding of themselves through their interactions with events and materials

outside themselves, which is why it is so important to create a classroom environment
that inadvertently allows them to foster learning and endlessly create themselves.
As a teacher I also want to be a cultivator of curiosity and inquiry in order for my
students not be afraid of trying something they have never done before. The best way to
encourage my students to become risk-takers is to first lead by example. Oftentimes
teachers are afraid to try something new in the classroom out of fear of failure, but
learning is still possible even when mistakes are made. In order for my students to take
that extra step in immersing themselves in their studies, I must also be willing to put in
the effort. Approaches I would take to get my students out of their comfort zones is to
encourage them to wonder, ask questions, explore possible answers to questions, and
ultimately lead them into constructing their own conclusions. Rather than telling my
students what to do, I want to be the type of teacher who asks my students to show me
what they can do and apply what they have learned into the real world.
I dont ever want my class to consist of me just blandly teaching students the
days material; I want my students to be immersed in their learning by having
discussions, supporting their ideas, having in-class projects, and a whole hands-on
approach to what is being taught. This is their education and what they take away at the
end of the day is a direct result of what I bring into the classroom. So, if I want my
students to be lifelong learners, then I must provide them with the tools necessary to
take-away meaningful lessons that they will remember for the rest of their lives. The
most important message I want my students to remember is that school is not about

Running Head: TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

always having the right answer, but rather developing the skills necessary to achieve
understanding of complex subjects for themselves.
Being a teacher is more than just about what I bring into the classroom, it is also
about being a valued colleague in a unit that is much bigger than myself. From personal
experience, I know that the best schools are the ones in which all the staff work together
as a team, are passionate, and involved. My role as a colleague is be professional,
have a positive attitude, and contribute to the school in which I am fortunate to work at. I
will be on time, respectful, prepared, and willing to work closely with my colleagues for
the betterment of the school and students. I will make it my priority to develop close ties
with my colleagues and collaborate with them. I will also be open to constructive
feedback and strive to be someone my peers not only look up to, but can depend on.
Teaching is more than just any regular job, I see it as the opportunity to inspire
and be inspired. There is so much that can be taken away by spending even just one
day inside of a classroom. The most significant thing I have come to realize through my
experiences inside and outside of the classroom is that what one teaches is a reflection
of who they are. So, if I want my students to become lifelong learners I must be one
myself; it is an endless conquest to practice what I preach. My role as a lifelong learner
is all about being open to what each day has to offer beneath its surface level through
its variety of mediums. Being a lifelong learner can also be defined as the personal
pursuit of knowledge and I intend to be one by continually questioning, analyzing, and
creating meaning of the world for myself. It is the child within me who was always
asking, why?, the determination to keep trying, and the spark that ignited within me the
passion to pursue a career in teaching to create even more lifelong learners.