My philosophy is important to me because it gives me something to aspire to as a teacher, and it gives me a focus so that I can improve my own skills, reflect and ensure that my students are gaining the most from having me as their teacher. My teaching philosophy is rooted in two principles: 1) creating a safe place for all students; 2) engaging students in critical thinking. Below, I describe them briefly:
My first goal is to create a classroom that is a safe place for all students, where they feel comfortable to be themselves and to contribute. This is important to me because my classroom needs to be a place where all students fit in and have a place that feels like it is their own in order for them to be better equipped to learn. If students are comfortable in their environment they will be more willing to explore and share their passions with others which will help build a sense of community in the classroom. I believe that if I can create a fun and engaging classroom, it will be the beginning of a creative learning and a safe, engaged type of classroom atmosphere.
My second goal is to promote and engage students in critical thinking. The main area I can do this in a Home Economics classroom is through conscious purchasing decisions whether that be for food or clothing. I think it is important for students to not only be mindful about where their clothing is made but how it is made and who made it. The same thing goes for food. Living in a consumer driven culture we often forget or don’t even think about how our clothes or food got to the store or how they were produced. Developing students critical thinking skills through both of these areas gives the subject matter meaning to the students as they already face purchasing decisions in their lives. By developing their critical thinking skills students will be better equipped for their lives after high school. As a teacher it is most important to me to ensure students gain these valuable life skills from my classes. Through class work and discussions, I hope to promote and facilitate critical thinking and problem solving skills so that students become mindful global citizens when they leave my classroom.
Today, students can quickly access information from the Internet. However, the Internet will not help them learn important life skills such as critical thinking and problem solving.