Teaching Philosophy

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 I have developed a personal teaching philosophy which considers every student a unique individual with their own gifts, abilities, learning styles, and life experiences. I approach every classroom as an opportunity for my own growth and evolution. I meet every student with an openness and willingness to learn from them. I believe that I have an ethical obligation to nurture and encourage my students’ critical thinking skills and to validate their individual scholarly pursuits. I believe that when students feel seen and cared for, they are more likely to engage with the instructor and the material. 

There are four principles which lay the foundation for my teaching philosophy: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication, and Community. 

Critical Thinking

I am a thoughtful and innovative instructor who believes that it is imperative to go beyond simply imparting basic facts and principles of information. My goal is to guide students toward critical thinking and evaluation. I strive to develop class activities (in person and online) that encourage students to actively engage with the material. Furthermore, if one of my students is struggling, I work with them on an individual level to understand their unique learning style in order to determine the best method of guidance. 

Creativity 

Whether in the physical or online classroom I use a variety of different teaching methods to appeal to the diverse learning styles of my students. In addition to textbooks and lectures, I utilize class activities, movies, music, and various websites with the purposing of imparting different concepts. I also encourage students to participate in community events and activities outside of the classroom.

Communication 

I aim to communicate clear objectives to my students (both long term and short term) 

and work toward helping them reach those objectives. Communication is a key component.

I consistently return to the syllabus and class schedule to remind students about upcoming assignments. I post weekly reminders (both in class and online). My personal policy is to answer any email within 24 hours (except on weekends). I use online discussion boards as a place in which students can ask questions and offer feedback. On these discussion boards, I encourage students to answer each other’s questions instead of solely depending on me.

Furthermore, I believe communication is imperative to help me evaluate whether my teaching is effective and whether students are receptive to the material. I listen to my students and watch their cues to determine whether I should modify or adapt a lesson plan or activity. 

Community

I believe that the most effective classrooms have a spirit of community, collaboration, and warmth. I am mindful of building a rapport with my students. I look for common stories and examples from my own life that students can connect with. I encourage an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and interacting without fear of censure or rebuke. I am also willing to ask questions and demonstrate my own uncertainties. I plan group activities and assignments so that students build friendships and connections to one another.                     

Below I include the teaching methods that are inspired by my teaching philosophy. (This list is a continuous work in progress) 

1.) Know the student to reach the class: In other words, learn their names! It is important that every student feels that I am invested in them as an individual.

 2.) Focus on growth: Instead of only using the rubric as a place to calculate points, I use it as a set of objectives. I make it clear to my students that we are striving to reach certain goals, and I will provide guidance every step of the way.

 3.) Recognize and celebrate diversity: Recognize and acknowledge a diverse student body that includes students from a variety of racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. I respect and acknowledge students’ preferred pronouns. Through classroom policies and discussions of ethics, I maintain and foster a classroom community of respect and good-will. 

4.) Be prepared, yet flexible: I tend to overprepare my classes. I plan a lesson that includes lectures, group activities, and online videos. I go into a classroom with a clear plan but remain open to reading the cues of my students to determine how much (or how little) information they need, and which strategies will work better on any particular day. I have found that it is necessary for me to be overprepared in order to be flexible.

 5.) Think outside the classroom: I keep up with current events, popular culture, and current happenings in a continuous effort to make lessons relevant.