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Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Unit 1 You—The Teacher of Tomorrow
You can update or rewrite your statement to reflect these changes.
This, too, is a sign of growth. You can use your philosophy of teaching
statement when you apply to a college teacher preparation program.
Eventually, you may use it when you apply for your first teaching
position.
The most difficult part about writing a philosophy of teaching is to
articulate your thoughts, or put them into words. Starting with questions
often makes writing your thoughts easier. Use the questions in Figure 2.10
to start your thinking.
When writing your statement, use language that everyone
understands, rather than words you think impress others. The format
is up to you. You may decide to write in the form of a story, use
relevant quotations, include visuals, or use a question/answer format.
It is usually best to use a first-person or “I” perspective. Keep your
philosophy statement short. As a student, two or three paragraphs are
sufficient.
Giving serious thought to your goals, career, and personal
objectives pays off in the long run. Such thinking helps you identify
what you want to put your time and effort into achieving. It also
provides a means of assessing when you have reached your goals and
objectives.
Figure 2.10 Developing Your Philosophy of Teaching
The following questions can help you in developing your personal philosophy
of teaching. Think about each of them, and jot down your thoughts. Your
philosophy statement may include some, but not necessarily all, of these points.
• Why do you want to teach?
• What characteristics make a teacher effective?
• How do students learn?
• What is an ideal classroom?
• What should the relationship between teacher and student be?
• What motivates students to learn?
• What should be the primary goal of a teacher?
• Who is the best teacher you have ever known? What made him or her so
special?
• What is the most important role of a teacher?