My Teaching Philosophy
Teaching is a privilege. I must approach this privilege with humility. I do not and will never know it all. I will never stop learning with my students and from my students. As I prepare and run my classes, I am inspired by five words: joy, uniqueness, connections, and safety.
1. Joy
Joy is a gift. While I understand that not all students will enjoy all my classes, I can still strive to create an enjoyable learning environment for most. I do my best to infect my students with my own joy of learning and teaching.
2. Uniqueness
There are multiple learning paths. As I get to know my students, I try to understand their personalities, strengths, and interests. I must use this understanding to help my students find their niche – and excel within it.
3. Connections
A guide helps travelers make connections between a point of origin and where they want to go. As a guide, I help my students connect their previous knowledge, the content of a particular course, and their future careers. This is best accomplished if students are encouraged to apply newly learned concepts in real or simulated scenarios. I also strive to help my students make connections with one another. I believe in cooperative learning and strive to foster learning communities in my classroom.
4. Safety
A classroom should, above all, be a safe place. I hope my students feel safe to be bring their whole selves to class. I also ask them to let me be authentic with them. Further, tolerance of risk and failure are key components of success. I seek to minimize the fear of learning by allowing "do-overs" and encouraging students to learn from their mistakes.
Joy is a gift. While I understand that not all students will enjoy all my classes, I can still strive to create an enjoyable learning environment for most. I do my best to infect my students with my own joy of learning and teaching.
2. Uniqueness
There are multiple learning paths. As I get to know my students, I try to understand their personalities, strengths, and interests. I must use this understanding to help my students find their niche – and excel within it.
3. Connections
A guide helps travelers make connections between a point of origin and where they want to go. As a guide, I help my students connect their previous knowledge, the content of a particular course, and their future careers. This is best accomplished if students are encouraged to apply newly learned concepts in real or simulated scenarios. I also strive to help my students make connections with one another. I believe in cooperative learning and strive to foster learning communities in my classroom.
4. Safety
A classroom should, above all, be a safe place. I hope my students feel safe to be bring their whole selves to class. I also ask them to let me be authentic with them. Further, tolerance of risk and failure are key components of success. I seek to minimize the fear of learning by allowing "do-overs" and encouraging students to learn from their mistakes.