Teaching+Philosophy

There are several aspects that guide the way a teacher educates their students. Many psychologists have spent their careers constructing theories and concepts that explain what impacts a child’s learning and how they learn best. These types of theories and concepts should be taken into account by teachers who are attempting to provide their students with an education. What follows is a glimpse at the theories and concepts that I plan on implementing into my philosophy of teaching to ensure that I can provide my students with the best education possible:


 * Bloom’s Taxonomy is a very important tool for teachers. The education system has gone through rigorous changes over the past decade. Currently, the aim is to ensure children have a deep understanding of topics, rather than a lower level comprehension. Therefore, as teacher we should refer to the higher levels of Bloom’s when teaching our students. When students are simply told to memorize materials, they use it once (e.g., for a test) and then forget it. But, when students have a deep understanding, they do not have to memorize because they have made connections between the information and so many other aspects of their lives that the information is used often and, hence, embedded in their knowledge.


 * Maslow’s //Hierarchy of Human Needs// is also another important concept to be aware of as teachers. We must understand that basic physiological needs can interfere with a student’s capacity to learn. For instance, if they have to go to the bathroom or have not eaten breakfast, or simply did not get sufficient sleep, their focus is going to be on those needs, not what I am teaching them. Students also have to feel a sense of comfort and security within their classroom. Therefore, it is my responsibility as the teacher to establish a warm and nurturing environment in which my students will feel safe.


 * The //Zone of Proximal Development//, Vygotsky’s main theory, is an important concept because we must understand that we are in the classroom to facilitate learning, not to simply give students answers to questions and problems. We need to let children problem solve independently to the point where they are unable to go any further and then step in to give guidance to get them to the next level of understanding. This is how students will expand their knowledge and skills.


 * Howard Gardner’s //Theory of Multiple Intelligences takes// into account that when entering a classroom there is going to be an abundance of different learning styles, or “intelligences” among students. Therefore, it is important to take these into account when planning lessons. We must keep in mind, however, that with so many different intelligences in one classroom, it is relatively impossible to take all of them into account during one lesson. What we can do is try to implement a variety throughout the day or week to ensure that all students get a chance to learn in their preferred manner.