My teaching philosophy is based on the theories of Neil Fleming, Colleen Mills,

Benjamin Bloom, and Lev Vygotsky. I believe that students achieve and learn the best when they

receive instruction tailored to their learning style and have the foundation needed to achieve

higher level thinking. I also believe that education is more than just academics. It includes the

social development and growth of students.

Based on my own experiences and observations, learning is most efficient and

meaningful when instruction is tailored to a student’s learning style. Learning styles can be

thought of as languages. It is more challenging for the student to learn when the instruction is not

done in the language they understand best, their learning style. Fleming and Mills state that it is

even more important for a student to understand his or her own learning style (​To Improve the

Academy​, 1992). As a teacher, I need to be familiar with each learning style and understand how

each of my students learn in order to teach them in the best way possible. I will also encourage

each student to be familiar with their own learning style so that they can help themselves learn in

the most beneficial way.

In order for students to gain higher level thinking, they first need to master lower level

thinking. This becomes the foundation for all of the knowledge they will learn in the future. It is

difficult to build on top a foundation that is weak or nonexistent. Bloom’s Taxonomy classifies

thinking into six levels of cognitive complexity with three lower levels and three higher levels

(​L.D., 2014​). It is believed that in order for a student to successfully learn the higher levels, they

must first master the lower levels. It is my job as a teacher to help students create that strong

foundation so they can learn the higher level knowledge and skills they will need for the future.
 Lastly, education should not only focus on academics. An important part of it is the social

development and growth of the students. Vygotsky believed that ​social interaction plays a

fundamental role in the process of cognitive development (L.D., 2014). Part of my role as a

teacher is to create an environment that fosters the right social interactions to help each student

grow as a person.

As a teacher, I will incorporate this philosophy and these educational theories into my

teaching. Students should be taught in the way they respond to the best in order to master each

level of learning. I will not only foster the students’ academic learning but care for them in all

aspects so that each of them grow socially and develop into a well-rounded person.
 References

Fleming, N., & Mills, C. (1992). Not Another Inventory, Rather a Catalyst for Reflection. ​To
Improve the Academy​, ​11​, 137-142. Retrieved from
http://www.vark-learn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/not_another_inventory.pdf

Learning Theory​. (2013). Holistic Approach to Technology Enhanced Learning. Retrieved from
http://cmapspublic3.ihmc.us/rid=1LNV3H2J9-HWSVMQ-13LH/Learning Theory.cmap

L. D., (2014). ​Bloom's Taxonomy (Bloom)​. Learning Theories. Retrieved from

http://www.learning-theories.com/blooms-taxonomy-bloom.html

L. D., (2014). ​Social Development Theory (Vygotsky)​. Learning Theories. Retrieved from
http://www.learning-theories.com/vygotskys-social-learning-theory.html