EDUC 250-Educational Psychology

Writing a Teaching Philosophy

Use the following Teaching Philosophy Template to guide you in preparing to write your
teaching philosophy. You can make notes in the blank column beside each major section
that should be discussed in your teaching philosophy. This should help you organize your
philosophy paper.
Teaching Philosophy Template*
Areas to Consider for a Teaching Philosophy
Why is teaching important you?

Teaching is important to me for many

reasons the top five are as follows:

Aspirations/goals/objectives

As a teacher
(For example, encourage mastery,
competency, transfer of skills, life-long
learning, meaningful learning, critical
thinking, etc.

For the students

(See suggestions above)
Describe and provide examples.

What beliefs, theories, and/or methods mark

successful teaching?
Methods to use in achieving these
goals/objectives
(For example, your beliefs regarding learning
theory and specific strategies you would use such
as case studies, debates, simulations, role playing,
learning/reading circles, active learning,
cooperative learning, project work, investigations)

1. I am getting to teach a child and

help them understand something.
2. I have wanted to be a teacher ever
since I was a little kid.
3. We as educators are responsible for
what our children learn.
4. As a future educator I think being
able to teach children right from
wrong as well as many subjects is
exciting.
5. The most important thing I feel is
that I will be educating children on
how to succeed.
I believe a theory that I would use myself
to mark successful teaching is Blooms
Taxonomy. If you were to do a project
using Blooms Taxonomy in the order that
it lists each thing I think you would be
successful in educating your students.
I think a few good projects for such a
theory would be a Science project where
the students have to participate in a Science
fair with a presentation; or a group Science
project for class presentation.

Describe and provide examples.

How to assess student understanding
(What are your beliefs about grading, test [normreferenced or criterion referenced], types of
assessments you will use-traditional paper-pencil
and/or alternative types-projects, panels, debates,

I would prefer to traditional paper and

pencil for tests. The reason for this would
be because computers sometimes have
malfunctions. A good example of this
would be if I have a Social Studies class

presentations, performances, etc.)

Describe and provide examples.

How will you improve your teaching?

(How will you use your student input to
improve your teaching? How might you
learn new skills and teaching strategies or
approaches? How do you know when you
have taught effectively?)
Describe and provide examples.

Additional comments

How do collaborate with other teachers?

How do you develop and maintain

positive rapport with students

How do you establish effective

relationships colleagues?

but the textbook, all the class materials, and

the tests are all done on the computer and
the computer malfunctions then I cannot
have that class or the test until the problem
is resolved. With paper and pencil and a
physical textbook I dont have to worry
about that, although grading and teaching
time would take a bit longer.
I am not sure how I would use student input
to improve my teaching. I suppose it would
depend upon what sort of students I have
and how much help they need in certain
subjects.
A good way for me to learn new skills and
teaching strategies or approaches would be
one of two things; 1. Talk to my fellow
teachers and colleagues and see what they
know and use, 2. Do my own research and
study different approaches and try out a
few until I find one suitable to use in class.
The way I will know when I have taught
effectively is when students ask meaningful
questions about the class, know the answers
to stuff we are currently doing in class, and
when they get good marks in the class
(meaning they understand the content).
Collaborating with other teachers can be in
multiple ways or settings. You could have
lunch with other teachers and discuss class
lessons, you can meet up after school and
plan out lesson plans together, or you could
even meet outside of school and talk about
things that you would like to accomplish in
class.
Im not sure how to answer this one other
than be the best teacher you can be and
treat all of your students with the respect
they deserve. Never pick favorites.
Effective relationships with colleagues can
be treated the same as with students except
a colleague is your equal or superior and
should be treated as such respectfully.

*Source-adapted from:
University of Minnesota
Office of Human Resources
http://www.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/tutorials/philosophy