Teaching Philosophy

The field of education is one of the most important professions. It is through education,

that a person develops the knowledge necessary to pursue a career of their choice. Every

individual deserves an equal and adequate education. Each person should have the opportunity to

receive an appropriate education. I believe that we all have the skills necessary to succeed and

that a teacher plays the biggest role in helping a student become successful. Teachers impact

each individual by helping them grow and learn. Teachers see potential in each and every one of

their students. A teacher should not treat students differently for any reason. Instead, a teacher

should see each and every one of their students with equality and respect.

Teachers have an extremely rewarding profession. Teachers are leaders who teach

students the information necessary in order for each one of them to acquire more knowledge than

before. They are the individuals who lead and guide their students, taking into consideration the

different ways that each one of their students learns and working hard to help them achieve

academically. Teaching may not be an easy profession; however I believe that it is rewarding in

that everything that the individual comes to learn is because of a teacher who took the time to

teach it to them.

It is all a matter of teaching the value of education to students and teaching them to

always aim towards achieving a higher education. Education leads to more opportunities for

individuals. It is a foundation by which individuals learn to become professionals who are

prepared to make changes in the future and in our society. I believe that education begins at a

young age but an individual never stops learning. Every day is a new day for an individual to

learn something new and our minds are constantly learning and growing in knowledge. Teachers
are constantly learning new ways to engage their students and to promote a community of

learners.

Good classroom management is one of the most important things for a teacher to not only

be knowledgeable about but also have the ability to achieve in their classroom. Teachers should

not impose all of the rules and do all of the oral communication but should allow students to

have an active role in the classroom and interact with their classmates. I believe that teachers

should understand that not all students come into the classroom knowing how to be self-

regulated and display good behavior. This is why it is important for teachers to serve as a model

and a guide for their students demonstrating what is expected from them as well as helping them

achieve that specific behavior. Students do, however, bring valuable backgrounds that serve to

create a classroom community.

Students will be taught how to control their behavior by following my example. I want

students to be able to observe what behavior I expect from them by observing and learning from

me as their teacher. Students should be given responsibilities in the classroom to exhibit

ownership of their work as well as set an example to those around them. Students will be allowed

and encouraged to participate in classroom activities. I, as their teacher will be their guide

showing them what respectable behavior towards one another looks like. Students will have the

opportunity to make the classroom rules, however as their teacher I will decide what the most

important ones are and use them for the class. I will try to avoid having to discipline students

however if a student is constantly misbehaving, then I will talk to the student aside and try to

find ways to help the student improve the misbehavior. I will remind them what respectable

behavior looks like, but I also expect students to begin to show it themselves. The classroom will

be a place where the students are interacting with one another in their work and helping one
another. This classroom will be student-centered with I, the teacher as the facilitator guiding

them through different activities to enhance their learning.

The classroom atmosphere will be nice and easy going. Through this atmosphere,

students will fell less pressure and less competition to have be or act a certain way. I believe in

having a permissive atmosphere in the classroom. Students should have the freedom to share

their ideas and should not be restricted from having social conversations with their classmates. I

do however believe that in some cases, an authoritarian classroom atmosphere will be imposed to

establish control in the classroom and avoid disruptive behavior.

The students will be able to feel like they can share their ideas without feeling like they

will not be taken into consideration or like their contribution is not good enough. The classroom

will be filled with positivity because students will be taught to respect each other and to value

one another. I think it is particularly important for students to feel like they belong in the

classroom and I believe that this will be accomplished in the classroom.

the procedures for the following things and will be expected to follow them. Teaching students

these procedures will allow for the classroom to maintain organized. It will also allow for

transitions to go about in a more productive way. This will allow for more time to be spent on

teaching the students by maximizing instructional time. I will constantly be practicing these

procedures with the students in order for them to understand the process of how each procedure

is done and I will also positively motivate them when I see them following the procedure

correctly.

1.) Morning routines- Upon arrival to school, students will place their back packs in the

designated area. They will hang their backpacks in their designated hooks or cubbies.

While they are waiting for the school day to begin, students will work on a warm-up that

will be on the board. Once everyone has arrived, we will as a class go over the warm-up.

I would like the warm-up to be related to something positive and about growth mindset in

order to get the students ready for the day.

2.) Transitions- When the time comes to transition to either lunch or another class, students

will hear a small phrase from me to let them know that the time has come for us to

transition. They will put down what they are doing and will stand behind their chair. The

tables will be placed in groups and will each have a designated number. They will be

given the number of their table since the beginning of the school year. I will call on a

table one by one to avoid having the students run into one another. Once every student is

lined up, I will remind them to walk quietly when going into the hallway. If the students

are moving from the carpet back to their tables to work on an assignment, I will do the

same and call out table numbers. Whenever I call out a specific table number the students

will simply get up and walk back to their seats. I will also have spots on the floor in order

for students to know where to stand when in line. When students need to utilize the

restroom, the teacher will have them place a magnet on the whiteboard and take their pass

to the restroom. This will allow for the teacher to know who is out of the classroom and

avoid classroom disruptions.

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3.) Housekeeping- Students will have a specific place in the classroom for their belongings.

Each table will be responsible over how clean their area is. They will work together to

maintain their group’s desk area clean and neat. At the end of the school day, one person

from each group’s table will check the surrounding area and make sure that no papers are

left on the floor and that each of their classmates’ desks are neat. The students will also

be assigned classroom jobs. This will allow the students to keep our classroom clean and

safe as well as give the students responsibility and a role in our class. The jobs will be

alternated every week in order to give each student an opportunity to have a classroom

job.

Sources:

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4.) Completing lessons- In order for students to turn in their completed work, I plan to use a

mailbox system in my classroom. The students will place all of their completed work for
 the day into their box. I will then make sure to check their work and once it is checked,

the students can put it in their subject folder. Using this system will allow for the students

to know exactly where and how we turn in our completed work as well as help me keep

track of student work in an effective way. Their mailboxes will be labeled with a specific

number, one they will keep all year long. I plan to assign a table manager role for each

student at a group table. They will receive a folder from me containing all of the papers

needed for the day. The student will then pass these papers our to the students in their

group.

Sources:

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Classroom Rules
 Rules will be placed in my classroom in order for students to know that they are expected

to display positive behavior. I believe a short list of rules is most effective because it would be

easier for students to know and practice them. I would like my students to be the ones to make

the classroom rules however I would like them to fall within the lines of the following rules. I

will guide the students into reaching these main rules that I believe are most important. The

students creating the rules and having only a small number of rules for the class will give the

students more freedom and comfort in the classroom.

1) Be kind and respectful- I would like students to understand the components that make a

person kind and respectful. I would explain that part of being kind and respectful to one

another is to not talk while another classmate is talking or while the teacher is talking. I

would also explain that all of their ideas are important and acceptable, and I would let

them know that part of being kind is not laughing at one another’s ideas. In this

classroom, we respect each other and cheer each other on.

2) Follow directions and listen carefully to instructions- I expect good work from each

and every one of my students. Part of how good the work looks comes from following

directions and listening carefully. I will discuss the importance of listening to instructions

and following them as they are stated.

3) Do your best on your work- As I mentioned, I want my students to do well in the work

that is assigned. I will explain that there is no need to rush on an assignment. I will let

them know that their work is valuable and that they should always give their best effort

into it.

4) Ask for permission- When a student has to use the restroom they would be expected to

ask before leaving the classroom. Once given the yes from me, they would quietly stand
 up and take the restroom pass from the side of the door and I will also make it clear that

they cannot take too much time. When a student needs a specific supply, I will explain

that they need to ask before getting that supply from their classmate or from me. I will

motivate students to always use say “Please” and “Thank you” when borrowing

something.

5) Have a positive attitude- I want my students to come to school with a positive attitude. I

will explain to them that they should come ready and willing to learn because I will

constantly remind them how great it is to learn something new. If they have a positive

outlook on things, they will be more motivated to do their work and a lot more motivated

to learn.

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1759287328996599/

Classroom Safe Place

take a break when they are not feeling well. This place will also be used when there is a

behavioral problem and will allow the student to stop and take a break. I can then go and talk to

the student one on one about what has happened in order to help the student and for the student

to have time to reflect. While in the safe place, students can choose from a number of items to

help them calm down.

Source:

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Classroom Library

In the classroom, I plan to have a library full of different books that promote not only a

love for reading in my students but also multiculturalism and biliteracy. As a bilingual teacher, I

plan to have books in which my students see themselves and their culture. I will organize the

books by author/genre and place a small dot sticker on the outside cover. Each bin will be

labeled which will allow for the process of putting books back to be much easier. The students

will be able to go into our classroom library and choose a book to read. They can choose to sit
comfortably in the library area while reading or read at their desk. When students have read a

book, there will be a cart where students are to place their books. The student who is the librarian

for the week will be in charge of placing the books back where they belong. Having this system

will allow for our classroom library to stay organized as the year progresses.

Sources:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/7599893096226167/

Community Circle

In my classroom, we will make time for community circles. Community circles are a

great way for students to be able to see each other as a close community and as a team. I plan to

incorporate community circles at the end of the school day. When doing our community circles,

all students will remain quiet unless they have the stuffed animal in their hand to share. Students

will be reminded to be respectful and wish each other well when someone has shared something.

Students will only share if they feel comfortable doing so.

I will help the students maintain engaged in classroom material by practicing and

demonstrating the following strategies. I understand the importance for students to be engaged in

the learning material. I want students to grow positively in their knowledge and in their social

skills. This will happen by using the following engagement strategies.

1) Student-centered activities- I will prepare ahead of time and have different centers in

the classroom for students to do different activities. The activities will be related to the

material we are learning in class. The activities will not be worksheets that require the

students to simply fill in the answers. The activities will be in forms of small

investigations that the students must conduct based on observations in the classroom.
 They will work in groups and will work collaboratively which will in return help them in

developing positive social interactions between one another.

2) Technology- There will be a technology section in the classroom. Students are a lot more

engaged with technology. In this section students will have the opportunity to use the

class tablet or computers. They will be allowed to play a game that corresponds to what is

being taught. However, I will set a specific amount of time as to how long they can be in

the technology center. I do not want them to spend too much time on technology, but I

think that this does help since it is very engaging to them. I will monitor their progress

and work to make sure that they are on task while using technology.

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3) Classroom atmosphere- I will create a safe and positive classroom environment. I

believe that if there is a positive classroom environment, the students will share more

about themselves. As the teacher I will not only teach them the subject material, but I will

also hope to speak to them about important topics. I will let them know that speaking up

and sharing however it is they may feel is okay to do. I will create a positive classroom

environment by encouraging them to believe in themselves. If they feel secure in the

classroom, they will be continuously participating and engaged throughout the day.
Classroom Blueprint
 The way I would like my classroom arranged is demonstrated below. The students’ desks

would be arranged in groups as shown below in the center of the classroom in a way where they

can easily look at the board. The backpack shelf is by the door so that when students walk into

the classroom, they can easily place their belongings into the shelf, grab a book, and take a seat. I

have placed the small group table facing the rest of the students so that while I am working with

a group of students, I can monitor what the rest of the class is doing. My desk would be in the

corner of the classroom and I have made the area where I will be actually teaching the whole

group with enough space. The technology station is by my desk. At the bottom right corner of

the room is the rug where I can also teach the students when doing whole group. The way that I

would set up my classroom will help students have a safe and positive place to learn.

Source: http://classroom.4teachers.org/