Alyssa Supple

Professor Suk
Educational Field Experience EDUC 230-13
Spring 2015
Rationale Statement Personal Philosophy of Teaching NJPTS Number One
Statement of Standard One:
Learner Development. The teacher understands how learners grow and develop,
recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across
the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and
implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences (NJPTS,
2014, p. 15-6).
Name of Artifact: Personal Philosophy of Teaching
Date of Artifact: February 19, 2015
Course: Education Field Experience EDUC 230-13
Rationale Statement:
The artifact that I am examining is that of the Personal Philosophy of Teaching,
and how this relates to the NJPTS Standard One on learner development. My personal
teaching philosophy consists of a compilation of my experiences as a student, and how I
plan to take this information and apply it to my future classroom. Standard Ones
Essential Knowledge point one explicates, The teacher understands how learning
occurs--how learners construct knowledge, acquire skills, and develop disciplined
thinking processes--and knows how to use instructional strategies that promote student
learning, (NJPTS, 2014, p. 16). By relating this to Jean Piagets theory of cognitive
development and how an individual is a learner shaped by environmental and natural
factors, I realized that my teaching philosophy is largely based on the same principles of
social interaction, environmental stimulus, and natural propensities. Students learn best

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when they can make the information their own, and for that reason, I plan to create a
classroom environment that is open to communication and established on respect. This is
key to learner development, as illustrated in Critical Dispositions one: The teacher
respects learners differing strengths and needs and is committed to using this information
to further each learners development, (NJPTS, 2014, p. 17).
This artifact encapsulates what it means to be a teacher, and through the process
of organizing my ideas and beliefs, I have learned how much I have, and still have, to
learn about teaching and learning. Teachers are life long learners, and by understanding
how I learn and how it is different from how others learn, this exercise has opened my
eyes to all of the factors I need to take into account as an educator.
I realize that my philosophy of teaching will evolve through time, but I will
nonetheless apply my philosophy to my future time in the classroom. The evolution of
this philosophy is all a part of the learning and teaching experience, and by having this as
a lens through which to view my strategies and practices, I can always return to the roots
of my teaching style.
References
Professional Development in New Jersey. (2014, August 4). Retrieved from New Jersey
State Department of Education: http://www.state.nj.us/education/code/current/
title6a/chap9c.pdf