PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY 2
From a Christian perspective, teaching is a lifelong process of learning, growing, believing, and
serving. An effective teacher draws from previously known philosophies while creating their
own as go. While some traditional method to teaching are important, it is equally important to
keep up to date with changing trends in the educational field. A teacher should initiate a kind,
positive, and respectful relationship with all students as it will give them a better learning experi-
ence. Understanding the diversity of your classroom is essential of being an effective teacher.
Each student has their own learning style and may be on different learning levels. While recog-
nizing the diversity amongst students, it is also important to treat them all the same. Teaching is
a very time consuming but rewarding career path. It may not be the plan you had in mind for
yourself, but God knows your path before you do and by living a Godly life, you are able to pass
on His word to your students.
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Teachers have the responsibility of influencing the minds and hearts of their students. As
Christian educators, we should desire to lay a foundation that provides direction and nurturing
for our students. In order to accomplish this in an educational setting, it is essential to understand
the individuality of students as well as motivate them to achieve their learning goals.
The teaching profession is not for everyone. Teaching requires compassion and respect and
the desire to a have an impact on students’ lives. It also requires someone who is willing to go
the extra mile to ensure student success. A Christian teacher understands the value of educating
students in the ways of God. From a Christian perspective, teaching is a lifelong process of learn-
ing, believing, growing, and serving.
Philosophy of Schools & Learning
In modern society, teachers are to be leaders as well as coaches and facilitators of learning for
students. If this does not happen, students can be influenced by a post-modernism agenda-the di-
rection society wants them to take. Not only should we teach students material to be later used
for quizzes and test, but students need to also be prepared with facts and truths for the environ-
ment in which they live. This results in them better handling the situations they are thrust in.
Even though being a Christian teacher is not easy, schools should allow and even encourage
teachers to demonstrate their Christian values through instruction.
While traditional teaching has been the go-to choice for teachers over the years and remains
beneficial for some, teachers should still not ignore changing trends in the educational field. Tra-
ditional curriculum helps to strengthen students’ knowledge and skills and has high expectations
for student achievement. The traditional education philosophies also have strong emphasis on
traditional values such as hard work, discipline, and respect for authority. With Thomas
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY 4
Aquinas’s neo-scholasticism philosophy, the student can be treated in a more rational way, gain-
ing truth and knowledge from the teacher, who is viewed as an authority figure in both natural
and spiritual laws.
Even though traditional methods have greatly impacted the educational field, teachers should
also keep in the mind the diverseness of the classroom. Influenced by Nietzsche, Kierkegaard,
Sartre, Heidegger, etc. with their essentialist philosophy, I would recognize the individuality of
each student. I will be committed to my students both academically and spiritually as John 20:21
tell us that we are disciples sent to do God’s will.
Instructional Practice
God knows everyone has great worth and as teachers, we should remember this when teach-
ing our students. God created us uniquely as Psalms 139:14 states, “I will praise You, for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made…” (New King James Version). God recognizes that each person
has special gifts, which can have a positive impact on their education. As Christian teachers, we
should be aware of the different learning styles and levels of our students. Teachers can do this
by taking the time to get to know the student and figure out what works best for them. For this to
happen the student and teacher need to work collaboratively on a variety of tasks. This will
strengthen their academic and other areas of performance.
I would make sure students had the best understanding of what I am trying to pass on to them.
One of my goals would be to create teaching methods to better help students gain the required
knowledge in and out of the classroom. Some of the knowledge I will pass on comes from the
Bible-knowledge I believe to be true. The value of the Bible in education is that it speaks to the
heart of the problem of sin and its solution- issues which all persons must face (Knight, 2006, p.
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY 5
210). With my belief in God, I will be able to form deep, personal but appropriate, and sincere
relationships with my students.
I would display a learning-centered environment for my students. Although this type of teach-
ing method is a shift from the traditional methods, it does not eliminate the teacher. This type of
environment creates a collaborative way for students to learn. While the teacher models instruc-
tion and initiates questions and discussions, it is the student who chooses how they want to learn,
what they want to learn, and who to learn with. This process is an excellent way for students to
determine how they learn best. Teachers must take into consideration what works for one may
not work for another. Although, this type of learning environment gives students more freedom,
it doesn’t mean they have complete control, especially over the core curriculum. Giving students
some choice in learning motivates them and creates a better learning experience.
Teacher-Learner Relationships
As a teacher, I will be an academic and spiritual leader for my students. A Christian teacher
recognizes that they are more than just a passer of information and trying to fill students’ head
with knowledge. It is more than helping them prepare for their future careers. The primary func-
tion of the teacher is to relate to the Master Teacher in such a way that he or she becomes God’s
agent (Knight, 2006, p. 213). One of my goals is to have a positive impact on students’ lives. I
would make sure my students knew they had the potential and the ability to be whatever they de-
sired. Given my position as the classroom leader, I believe I can help initiate this mindset. As a
Christian teacher, I will recognize that each of students are unique. I would embrace every op-
portunity to influence my students with their God-given talents. I could also be viewed as a men-
tor as I hope to motivate each student to achieve their goals, whether it inside or outside of the
classroom.
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The best teachers can maximize the learning experience for every student. They understand
that to promote student success, a positive, respectful relationship must be established. Building
a relationship, and a positive one at that, can be challenging and time consuming. While some
teachers are naturals at relationship building with their students, other may need a hand to guide
them, but over time they too will become masters at it. Some of the best strategies to develop a
relationship with your student include showing an interest in them, teaching with an enthusiastic
and positive attitude, treating them with respect, and making learning fun (Meador, 2019). But
first, the teacher must create the appropriate environment to do all this and that requires an orga-
nized and structured classroom. A structured classroom makes students feel safe and react posi-
tively to the teacher and instruction as a result. Teachers who lack structure tend to lose valuable
instruction time. A well-structured classroom is filled with engaging activities with little to no
free time.
Students respond to teachers who are enthusiastic and passionate about the material being
taught. Excitement can be contagious. When a teacher introduces material with enthusiasm, the
students a drawn in. If the teacher is not excited, then why should the students be? Having a posi-
tive attitude goes in hand with enthusiasm. Everyone has their bad days, including teachers. It is
essential that personal issues do not interfere with your teaching. No one enjoys spending time
with someone who is negative, and students may end up resenting you for your negative attitude.
However, their learning experience is heightened with a teacher who is positive and continuously
offering praise. Respect for your students is also important. Your students will not respect you if
you do not respect them. Yelling, sarcasm, or embarrassing a student are quick ways of losing
the respect of your students. Teachers must treat students the same and not show favoritism as
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the same set of rules apply for all students. It is also essential that as a teacher you remain consis-
tent and fair when dealing with students.
Diversity
With the United States becoming more diverse each year, it is obvious that diversity will ap-
pear in the classroom and teachers need to prepare themselves for it. God created each of us dif-
ferently, with our own personality, talents, and abilities. Since teaching according to students’ di-
verse needs is important, teachers should strive to create an environment that is welcoming and
filled with positivity for everyone. Galatians 3:28 states, “There is neither Jew nor Greek; there
is neither slave nor free; there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus”
(New King James Version). Considering the student’s individual learning style is also important.
A teacher should consider modifying assignments to make them more accessible for students. It
can seem impossible and time consuming when you are potentially modifying every assignment
but there are resources for teachers specifically for this purpose. Teachers could use sentence
starters, word banks, leveled texts, and cloze notes, especially for students who are English lan-
guage learners and struggling readers (DeBose, 2016). There are seemingly endless online re-
sources to help teachers strategize for this very thing. Websites such as ReadWorks, Reading
Rockets, Read Write Think, just to name a few, have valuable resources and the more a teacher
uses them, the more successful they will feel as teachers and the students will feel as learners.
Differentiated instruction is also an excellent teaching strategy. It asks teachers to know their
students well so they can provide each one with experiences and tasks that will improve learning
(Robb, n.d.). This means that you understand you students’ unique learning needs and build your
instruction around that. Some of key principles of forming a differentiated instruction foundation
include ongoing formative assessment, recognition of diverse learners, group work, problem
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solving, and choice (Robb, n.d.). As you can see from these principles, teachers must continually
strive to know and respond to their students’ needs in order to maximize learning. Using this
type of instruction is especially important for diverse learners because each student have differ-
ent levels of experience and expertise with reading, writing, critical thinking, problem solving,
and speaking.
God’s Plan for Me
While it may have not always been my desire to teach, God had other plans for me. I knew it
was God’s plan two years ago when I had the opportunity to interview for a teaching job. While I
didn’t get the job, God opened a door and that door has and will continue to widen. God pro-
vided me the push I needed to go back to school. I now have the chance to pursue one of the
greatest careers there is and also have the opportunity to impact students’ lives. Teaching is a
very rewarding career and requires special people who have that special something to do it. “My
brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judg-
ment” (James 3:1, New King James Version). I believe I have that special something. Therefore,
it is my responsibility, as God has called me to do, to teach the students who enter my classroom
how to walk a Godly path.
Conclusion
Our society, including the educational field, is constantly changing and making advancements
each day; we, and our students, must be able to keep up. As Christian teachers, our purpose in a
leadership role is to guide students with the knowledge and truth of God’s word. In order to ac-
complish this, we need to look for ways that point to a Christian livelihood for the future. It is the
students’ responsibility to differentiate between right and wrong throughout their lives, but
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teachers can be models while in the classroom and at school. Society may have a major influence
on us and our students, but there is hope with our teaching methods.
References
DeBose, G. (10 February 2016). 10 tips for meeting the needs of diverse learners. Retrieved
from https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2016/02/10/10-tips-diverse-learners-gbt/
Knight, G.R. (2006). Philosophy & education: An introduction in Christian perspective. Berrien
Springs, MI: Andrews University Press.
Meador, D. (23 June 2019). Strategies for teachers to develop positive relationships with
students. Retrieved from https://thoughtco.com/develop-positive-relationships-with-students-
3194339?print
Robb, L. (No date). What is differentiated instruction? Retrieved from
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/what-differentiated-instruction/
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