Philosophy of Education

As I reflect on my time at NAU, I feel that my personal philosophy of education has changed each semester. Throughout the last year and a half, it has grown to include new things I have learned from each course and from each incredible professor. However, regardless of what has been added to it, it remains centered around building strong relationships and creating a comfortable and safe classroom for every person who walks through the door. One of my main goals as a future educator is to build strong relationships with my students in a welcoming and safe environment. Students will not be able to learn if they do not feel comfortable in the classroom. I plan on focusing on building rapport with my students, but also helping them grow friendships with one another. I want them to be able to depend on me as well as each other. They need to feel comfortable asking questions and voicing their opinions without any judgment. I believe that the educational experience for students should be interactive, welcoming, positive, informative, and fun. Students should be able to be their true selves and find their identities through respectful collaboration with their peers, experimenting with new knowledge, and a reliable support system. The classroom should feel like a second home to students, but they also need to understand that they are there for a reason and that is to LEARN. There will be structure in the classroom to make sure everyone's needs are being met and they are provided with every opportunity to be successful. The students will understand the expectations of the classroom and that we are all held accountable for them. Students should be taught the appropriate standards for their grade level, but with creativity that peaks their interests and keeps them engaged. Teachers should be facilitators rather than lecturers. They should engage their students and motivate them to accomplish things they never thought they could do. The classroom and curriculum should be tailored to each student’s needs and promotes a lifetime of learning where students have educational opportunities. When I look at my goals for the future, teaching is at the top of my list. I want to change students' lives in a positive way and help them realize their true potential. I want to be there when they have their "a-ha" moment and one of the reasons they look forward to coming to school. I want to be the teacher that my future students are writing about in their college essays on who inspired them or changed their lives.

I want to be THAT teacher.

I will become THAT teacher.