My Teaching Philosophy: The 5 'BE's
Be Present & AuthenticFor a teacher to be successful in the classroom, it is essential that she is present and available to her students. Arguably, it is not the purveying of knowledge or the facilitation of learning that makes teaching most challenging. Rather, it is the personal connections a teacher makes with each student that makes her an authentic witness, a safe person, and a role model. This is not easily done, but the most effective teacher is easily available for her students’ academic and emotional needs.
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Be PresentIn order to have authenticity, a teacher has to be actively involved in the school community and present outside the walls of the classroom. This is accomplished by taking an interest in the extra-curricular lives of students by supporting them at sporting events, concerts, recitals, and more. Showing up for these things demonstrates commitment to the community and makes it clear to your students that you care. If you care, they will come with you in the classroom.
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Be HumanPretending to be above the mistakes of humanity is a farce and yet teachers often feel like they cannot admit flaws or errors for fear of appearing weak to students. I could not disagree more with this idea. In fact, admitting wrongs and shortcomings makes teachers more relatable and it liberates students from the pressure of needing to be perfect all the time. Everyone makes mistakes and teachers are no different. We can empower students to admit wrongs and work to be better by modeling this behavior ourselves.
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Be Educated & KnowledgeableBeing knowledgeable in your field (both your subject, and education in general) makes you confident and credible. Furthermore, challenging yourself to be a lifelong learner will keep you up to date on best practices and make you a better educator in the classroom. Also, it is just another way you can model for your students the type of learner you want them to be: committed, unafraid of challenges, and open-minded.
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Be EnthusiasticEven an ounce of unbridled enthusiasm for your subject and job can go a long way in the classroom. This can be difficult to feel and express on difficult days. Still, when you express your passion for teaching and your subject, it is infectious and can prompt students to share in your excitement, which is half the battle. Never lose touch of why you began teaching in the first place, and let it show.
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All images on this page are my own.