Its funny. When i was in teacher school, I was asked to produce my "philosophy of teaching" before I even got out of my stats class. I didn't know enough to have a decent philosophy. What a silly assignment for a 23 year old who's only classroom experience might have been to give swimming lessons to a group of seven year olds. I think to have a true philosophy, one has to be seasoned a bit. I think a teacher especially has to experience the cyclical nature of educations-to have those moments where she is sittng in an inservice thinking "oh. here it is again. Same focus different name." There are three facets of forming or to form a philosophy. The first is to know yourself, as a person, and an educator. That self-knowing takes time. I am certainly not the same person or educator that I was 27 years ago. As I have grown, "teacher" has become part of who I am. not what I do.
The second facet is to, as Coach Brian Kelly said today, become a student of the game. Both Yorktown High School in Muncie, Indiana, and Ross Beatty High School in Cassopolis Michigan recognized the leadership potential in me and sent me to almost every conference imaginable. I have been to conferences, clinics, inservices, and have in many cases been able to use the information I received to better myself in the classroom. Teaching English Methods at Bethel College was probably the most humbling experience for me, because as I was teaching best practice to future educators, I realized that I too, needed to continue to study, and utilize the best methods possible if I wanted to continue to be acceptable and successful in the classroom. You see, I don't want to be remembered as ordinary. I don't have to win teacher of the year. but I want to know that when I am done, I have been successful. And that does not neccessarily mean that my students have to have high ACT scores. Finally, in forming a philosphy you have to find, and articulate a balance. Although being an educator is now ingrained into who I am, I still need to balance being a mom, wife, daughter, grandmother, late in life athelete, mentor and colleague with my classroom work. I love my job. I love what I do. I love working with kids and seeing the lights go on after a long struggle. I like to make them smile and I glory in their little successes. I suppose, after more than a quarter of a century as an educator, that is philosophy enough.
The second facet is to, as Coach Brian Kelly said today, become a student of the game. Both Yorktown High School in Muncie, Indiana, and Ross Beatty High School in Cassopolis Michigan recognized the leadership potential in me and sent me to almost every conference imaginable. I have been to conferences, clinics, inservices, and have in many cases been able to use the information I received to better myself in the classroom. Teaching English Methods at Bethel College was probably the most humbling experience for me, because as I was teaching best practice to future educators, I realized that I too, needed to continue to study, and utilize the best methods possible if I wanted to continue to be acceptable and successful in the classroom. You see, I don't want to be remembered as ordinary. I don't have to win teacher of the year. but I want to know that when I am done, I have been successful. And that does not neccessarily mean that my students have to have high ACT scores. Finally, in forming a philosphy you have to find, and articulate a balance. Although being an educator is now ingrained into who I am, I still need to balance being a mom, wife, daughter, grandmother, late in life athelete, mentor and colleague with my classroom work. I love my job. I love what I do. I love working with kids and seeing the lights go on after a long struggle. I like to make them smile and I glory in their little successes. I suppose, after more than a quarter of a century as an educator, that is philosophy enough.