Teacher Vision
I love learning. I love teaching. I love the light in a student's eyes when something clicks. That very click happens to me as I help another understand something, whatever it may be. Throughout everything that I have ever thought of doing for a living - cooking, acting, writing - I have thought about teaching it.
I have always loved reading and did very well with reading in school. Writing on the other hand, was a challenge at times. I was a terrible speller, something I still struggle with, and I failed the state writing test once. In junior high I found poetry and music which began a lifelong interest in listening and writing. It was when I got into high school and we started analyzing texts and talking about things that I felt actually mattered that my passion was ignited. I found my voice.
The growing of that spark into a real fire was largely thanks to my high school English teachers who listened and thoughtfully commented on what I had to say. They pushed me further by asking me questions that forced me to dive deeper and think harder and gave me assignments that suited my interests like extra information on poetry that I could use for a project the class was doing. I want to be that kind of teacher, one who carefully listens, thoughtfully responds, and encourages his students in all the good they have to offer.
Teaching Philosophy
"A true teacher does not stand in front of nor behind his students but invites them to stand beside him and see what he sees."
My teaching philosophy is guided by this principle. I say this because I am an idealist who believes that in order for true learning to take place a student must desire to understand and work to achieve that understanding. Teaching is a process where I present information and work with students to make sense of it and apply it to the subject and to their lives. I want to help students learn how they learn and how to learn better.
"Teaching is not filling a bucket; it is lighting a fire."
Telling students what something is will not help them very much; showing them how to use it will. As students see their success in language and how language applies to their lives they will get excited. They will have a fire within them fueled by their natural desires to be understood and participate in dialogue as opposed to the bucket of cold water that is unfortunately tossed far too often on students in traditional teaching settings. Emerson stated, "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."
I will achieve this by communicating with my students, not just talking at them. I will respond with quality feedback to their assignments and comments in class that not only points out what they do well and where they can improve, but that inspires them to think about how to improve and build upon what they do know. I will plan lessons around the perceived needs of my students and will give assignments that ask students to explore and reflect upon their own experiences and make connections to readings.
I love learning. I love teaching. I love the light in a student's eyes when something clicks. That very click happens to me as I help another understand something, whatever it may be. Throughout everything that I have ever thought of doing for a living - cooking, acting, writing - I have thought about teaching it.
I have always loved reading and did very well with reading in school. Writing on the other hand, was a challenge at times. I was a terrible speller, something I still struggle with, and I failed the state writing test once. In junior high I found poetry and music which began a lifelong interest in listening and writing. It was when I got into high school and we started analyzing texts and talking about things that I felt actually mattered that my passion was ignited. I found my voice.
The growing of that spark into a real fire was largely thanks to my high school English teachers who listened and thoughtfully commented on what I had to say. They pushed me further by asking me questions that forced me to dive deeper and think harder and gave me assignments that suited my interests like extra information on poetry that I could use for a project the class was doing. I want to be that kind of teacher, one who carefully listens, thoughtfully responds, and encourages his students in all the good they have to offer.
Teaching Philosophy
"A true teacher does not stand in front of nor behind his students but invites them to stand beside him and see what he sees."
My teaching philosophy is guided by this principle. I say this because I am an idealist who believes that in order for true learning to take place a student must desire to understand and work to achieve that understanding. Teaching is a process where I present information and work with students to make sense of it and apply it to the subject and to their lives. I want to help students learn how they learn and how to learn better.
"Teaching is not filling a bucket; it is lighting a fire."
Telling students what something is will not help them very much; showing them how to use it will. As students see their success in language and how language applies to their lives they will get excited. They will have a fire within them fueled by their natural desires to be understood and participate in dialogue as opposed to the bucket of cold water that is unfortunately tossed far too often on students in traditional teaching settings. Emerson stated, "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."
I will achieve this by communicating with my students, not just talking at them. I will respond with quality feedback to their assignments and comments in class that not only points out what they do well and where they can improve, but that inspires them to think about how to improve and build upon what they do know. I will plan lessons around the perceived needs of my students and will give assignments that ask students to explore and reflect upon their own experiences and make connections to readings.
A video I found with quotes I like from one of my favorite poets, Ralph Waldo Emerson
Many of these represent my feelings about life, teaching, and learning
Many of these represent my feelings about life, teaching, and learning