Dakota Mattson

B.Ed, 2017
dakota.mattson@gmail.com
Teaching Philosophy

I believe that the best teachers are those who place emphasis on the students as learners and as
individuals. This concept is truly the foundation of my teaching philosophy, and manifests in four key
areas. First, the establishment of relationships built on a foundation of mutual respect will have a
positive impact on the learners. Second, keeping differences in mind, planning engaging and effective
lessons that provide meaningful connections to the lives of students will make learning a relevant
experience. Third, exhibiting a spirit of adaptability within the classroom is essential to harnessing the
learning potential of all students. Finally, acknowledging and valuing the need for life-long learning
within this profession will benefit students and teachers alike. By incorporating these four foundational
attitudes into my work as an educator, I will build a positive learning atmosphere and provide students
with the opportunities to showcase their knowledge and succeed within my class.

It is so important to build strong personal connections with the students, at any age. The
learning process can flourish under circumstances of mutual respect. Showing a sincere interest in all
students can help them to feel comfortable within the classroom. This sense of safety will then,
hopefully, result in students wanting to engage and interact with content, peers, and the teacher, to
contribute to the learning of the class. I believe that learning occurs best when students have formed a
sense of community and belonging in their environment. As teachers, it is our responsibility to facilitate
relationships with students and between students. A respectable learning environment opens the door
to collaboration and discussion of varying viewpoints. Discussion is an extremely beneficial tool in the
classroom that allows students to take control of their own learning and expand on understandings.
Students have the ability to contribute content, knowledge, and experience from their lives, and tie it
back to lecture material. As students feel comfortable in their environment, they become more
confident, and will contribute to the learning of the class in more intricate and meaningful ways. I
believe in having an open-door policy. If students need to talk to me, whether that be before or after
school, during lunch, or any other downtime, I am happy to do so. Establishing and maintaining an
approachable presence will encourage students to reach out if they need help regarding school or life
events. Ensuring that students know they can come to their teachers for help can make a significant
difference. Therefore, the importance of building relationships is two-fold. First, to create an inclusive
and positive learning experience, and second, to provide opportunity for students to access help when
necessary.

Every student has a unique set of experiences and diverse abilities, backgrounds, and learning
styles. Because of this, every class is unique, and only through getting to know who your students are,
will you be able to best serve their needs as both learners and individuals. As you continually work to
build and enhance relationships with and between students, you will gain insight into their passions,
interests, and backgrounds. Knowing about your students in this way will allow you to utilize their
experiences and interests within the classroom to support or supplement understandings. This brings to
light the second key pillar of my philosophy, which is providing relevant learning experiences.
Capitalizing on student interests is one of many ways to achieve this goal within the classroom. If
students show sincere interest in a topic, make time to explore it in a more thorough manner. Doing so
will allow for a more well-rounded understanding of the topic while also increasing engagement and
enjoyment in their learning. Another way to provide relevance is by providing learning choices and
supporting a spirit of inquiry. If students are given the opportunity to direct their own learning, within
 Dakota Mattson
B.Ed, 2017
dakota.mattson@gmail.com
an established framework, then they have the ability to explore something of particular interest to
them. By extending this idea to include project based learning, students are given the time necessary to
not only explore a topic, but also to create a meaningful final product and then share that learning with
others. This encourages, and hopefully inspires, them to take initiative and truly own their work. One
aspect of project based learning that I believe provides a meaningful experience to students is cross-
curricular integration. Much of what we do within schools is divided into distinct subject based
segments. Breaking down those walls and showing students that the content across two or more of their
classes is intricately intertwined can be eye opening. Using knowledge from one aspect of life to inform
us and guide our decisions within another aspect of life is expected daily, so having students make these
connections early on will be beneficial.

It is essential for a teacher to be adaptable. This expands among multiple outlets. First, it is
important to be adaptable with instruction, providing variety with instructional strategies to appeal to
all learners. It is also important for teachers to be adaptable in regards to assessment, while maintaining
integrity in regards to validity and reliability. Allowing students to express their understanding through a
variety of modalities helps to keep them engage and may more accurately reflect their learning. I believe
it is essential to maintain a mindset in which you are open and willing to learn from the experiences and
knowledge your students bring to the classroom. Though they are there to learn from us, they present
us with an equally significant learning experience, whether they realize this potential or not. It is
important to allow for divergence from lesson plans. Sometimes the greatest learning opportunities are
fostered through unanticipated discussion and questions. By embracing these moments, students will
contribute to lessons in a meaningful way and likely enhance the learning of themselves and their peers.

I believe that a teacher is an individual who inspires others to grow, evolve, and challenge
themselves. In turn, they hold themselves to those same standards of self-improvement. To be a
successful teacher, one must continually grow based on experiences. As the education profession
continues to adapt and change over the years, it is up to the teachers to interpret the research, employ
the strategies, and analyze whether or not they are suitable for the given context. Teachers should not
fear failure. Instead, we should embrace the inevitable, and use our own mistakes or shortcomings as a
means to improve our understanding and our competencies as educators. I believe it is also important
to instill this idea in the minds of students. Failure is a powerful tool, not something to be ashamed of or
embarrassed about. It provides a valuable opportunity for reflection and a framework for personal
improvement as we learn and grown as individuals. Not only must we learn ways to improve and evolve
our teaching practice, we must also stay recent on news and findings in our respective fields an idea
very pertinent in the always adapting field of science.

As an individual, I place great value on knowledge. Being able to articulate complex ideas with
confidence and understanding is a trait I value immensely in regards to the teaching profession. The
need for lifelong learning in this profession is something that motivates me. As an educator, I hope to
inspire a similar hunger for information and understanding in the students I teach. I hope that my
passion for knowledge and course content be contagious to those who enter my classroom. I want to
encourage discovery and exploration beyond the concepts discussed in class. I believe it is my
responsibility as an educator to provide students with the skills necessary to facilitate their own learning
beyond the classroom. This learning will look different for every individual I have the privilege to teach,
but it all relates back to creating an environment that values students as learners and individuals.