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Rebekah Lockaby
EDUC 250
Karla Henderson
22 April 2015

Teaching Philosophy
Teaching is important to me because I want to make a difference in young peoples lives.
High school is a difficult time for some students, and it would be rewarding to help those
students reach their full potential. I believe that everyone has an incredible amount of untapped
potential that they do not realize they have. I also want others to be as excited as I am about
foreign languages and bring a different culture to them in return. It is important that students
experience different cultures in my opinion because it will open their eyes to the many
possibilities and types of people there are on this planet.
As a teacher my goals are to encourage self-efficacy, lifelong skills, critical thinking,
social skills, mastery goals, and meaningful learning. I hope that the students will learn selfregulation in order to complete their own goals. I hope they also seek lifelong learning, intrinsic
motivation, transfer of skills, and meaningful learning.
There are several theoretical perspectives that can be used to make successful teaching.
The theories that I believe to be most beneficial include cognitive-development, sociocultural,
and psychodynamic theories. I believe all of these theories benefit teachers in making learning
more successful by contributing insight to the maturation, brain development, social and cultural
influences, and potential personalities of the students they intend to teach.

Cognitive-development theories reflect individual constructivism, or the idea that

children try to make sense of their own world while gaining increasingly complex knowledge
and abilities. This theory was studied by psychologist Jean Piaget, whose work has been used by
teachers for over 30 years. The idea that children learn through progressive stages is very
plausible considering all of the evidence. This knowledge is beneficial because we can use it to
understand the level of brain maturation and development a student is at. Once we have this
information, we can find appropriate subject levels and teaching styles. We know from Piaget
that children starting kindergarten are in the preoperational stage. Therefore, they will learn best
by using symbols, but avoiding abstract concepts. Specific strategies include simulations, role
playing, discovery, and inquiry learning.
Social and cultural influences are very important for teachers to understand because the
way a person thinks about objects and events are passed on from all around. Cultural heritage
affects the development of any particular student, like the boy who misses school to help his
family with the farm. In order to understand the reasoning of behavior teachers must consider
their social and cultural influences. According to psychologist Lev Vygotsky, in order for
students to learn they must be in their ZPD (zone of proximal development). The strategies for
achieving learning depends to the individuals ZPD from direct instruction to discovery learning.
Lastly, the psychodynamic theory focuses on personality development and the struggles
that accompany finding an identity. Psychologists such as Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson
believed that early unconscious experiences had significant effects on peoples lives later on.
This theory is important for teachers to understand because a part of teaching is dealing with the
personalities of students. Every individual is unique, so teachers must have a way to recognize
the similarities and predict future behavior. The best way to learn from a psychodynamic

perspective is by attending to the unconscious desires and mending them to fit in with society.
Specific strategies for teachers to encourage personality development include class discussions,
small-group inquiry learning, peer tutoring, and service learning.
To assess student understanding I will use tests, quizzes, and combine all of the work for
a total, which is of course their grade. I believe that using tests is an ideal way to get necessary
feedback from students. In the process students will be required to study along with practicing
other self-regulations skills. It will also prepare them for the future if they plan on continuing to
post-secondary education. I do believe that too much testing can create too much anxiety which
can be harmful to the thinking and overall well-being of the students.
The types of assessment I will use will include both traditional and alternative methods.
For traditional assessment I will use pencil and paper methods to evaluate my students progress.
I will also use alternative methods such as projects, panels, debates, presentations, and
performances. I believe it is good to use both types of assessment in order to reach all learning
types. Some students are better at expressing themselves through paper and pencil. An example
would be having the students assess their learning experience, the amount they learned that day,
as well as one thing they didnt quite understand. This would be turned in at the end of every day
and discussed at the beginning of every day.
I will improve my teaching by using student input, learning new skills, and continuously
assessing myself and my students to make sure I am teaching effectively. I will use my student
input to alter my lessons if necessary in order to improve the learning experience. I will assess
my efficiency in getting the students to understand the content. For example, if a student or
several students reported to me that they did not understand the way I was explaining something,
I would alter my lesson and try an entirely different approach.

I will learn new skills and teaching strategies from other teachers, public resources,
technology, and professional coursework. There are several classes for teachers to take in order
to keep up with upcoming technology, classroom management tips, and other helpful topics. Also
by continuing to ask parents and students for their input. I will know that I have been teaching
effectively when all of the students have met the objectives of the lesson. If all of the students
show understanding of the topic in depth and maybe even become a little bored or distracted,
then I will know that they are ready to move on. Another way to know is after having assessed
the students, most of them will be correct in their responses and meet the objectives. There will
also be positive student input and little frustration.
It is important that teachers collaborate with each other so that they can share opinions,
classroom management suggestions, lesson-plans, ideas, and growth in their career. This can be
done through E-mail, telephone, face-to-face meetings, Skype, or just during lunch. In order to
establish effective relationships with colleagues one should be professional, have frequent
meetings and discussions, show respect, listen closely, and practice good communication skills.
Developing and maintaining positive rapport with students can be difficult at times. The
best thing to do is always show them an equal amount of respect. From day one, the students
should see it as a businesslike setting that is fair and stern. Let them know that you care and
encourage them to keep trying their best. If it is done right, a teacher can develop trusting
relationships with his or her students.