My Personal Teaching Philosophy

My Personal Teaching Philosophy

You have several options in completing this task:

1. Write a two page paper (not including the title page or reference page).

Cite a minimum of one scholarly source in addition to your textbook, and format according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.  Be sure that your assignment includes the following elements:

Introductory Paragraph: Begin with an attention getter - a powerful statement, an intriguing question, or a general overview of how a teacher might form his/her philosophy. Develop your ideas and end your introductory paragraph with yourthesis statement about what your personal teaching philosophy is and how it will positively impact student learning. 

Body Paragraphs: (Fully develop four paragraphs containing five to seven sentences each)

• Views on Teaching and Learning: Examine Chapter 2 of your text and determine which educational philosophy or philosophies are most aligned with your views of teaching and learning (i.e. Progressivism, Perennialism, Essentialism, Social Reconstructionism, Existentialism).  Describe your views on teaching and learning and provide evidence from the text to support your assertions.  In addition to the text, include a minimum of one additional scholarly source.
  
  
• Educational Experience: Provide examples from your own educational experience that have influenced your teaching philosophy.  How do these examples reflect or contradict your views of teaching and learning?
  
  
• Goals for Students: Explain three to five goals you will set, what you will expect from your students, and how you will achieve these goals.  Discuss what you want students to learn as a result of your teaching (i.e. problem solving, critical thinking, content knowledge, etc.).  Examine Chapter 3 of your text and determine which learning theories (i.e. Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism, Multiple Intelligences) will help you to meet the diverse needs of your students.  Support your views with text-based evidence. 
  
  
• Professional Growth Plan: Explain the professional development goals you will set for yourself as a teacher and how you plan to remain a lifelong learner.  How will you continue to learn new trends and strategies which help you to remain innovative in the classroom?  Discuss ways in which lifelong learning relates to qualities of an effective teacher.

Conclusion Paragraph: Return to your most important points from your paper and how they have combined to form your Personal Teaching Philosophy.  Emphasize your thesis statement again and bring your paper to a powerful close by leaving the reader with more to ponder or consider.  Do not simply restate the Introductory Paragraph here.  The conclusion should reframe your thoughts in a different way.