The Creative Curriculum

Teaching Philosophy & Fostering Student Growth and Development

These four points sum up my teaching philosophy and how I choose to foster student growth and development:

Belonging To An Academic Community

Students will be motivated in an environment where they feel connected academically to their fellow peers and teachers. The feeling of belonging within a learning environment helps students understand and feel comfortable with the learning process and know the journey is not one that is taken alone. It is my goal every time I step into any classroom to have my students feeling comfortable and confident to learn and develop in the classroom environment. I aim to have the students being a part of an academic community where every single person including the teacher is there to learn and grow. No student is to feel incompetent and all students are encouraged to help each other to grow and develop together as a group whilst having fun.

Belief In Success

A students self belief in their own success is a better measure of their abilities than their academic success. It is important that each student is encouraged to believe that they can succeed at any task. Students are able to strive and work harder at a task when they feel that they are likely to succeed. Verbal communication of encouragement in succeeding from the teacher to the student is important, it helps form an academic trust and relationship between the teacher and the student, and if successfully done as a whole class creates a support group for encouraging that success. Encouraging posters around the classroom is also a positive reminder for students to remember that they can succeed and practice positive self talk.

Valuable And Meaningful Units/Activities

Students are more likely to work toward completing a task when the academic work is seen to be relevant to their interests, lives, and concerns. The act of looking for connections in new information is natural and students will put more focused energy and attention on completing a task that is seen as valuable and meaningful. Connecting with students’ interests and values is the best way to plan and implement lessons and activities that will have students working to their best ability.

With Effort Skills And Knowledge Can Develop

Students and teachers must have the belief that with effort the skills and knowledge of students can develop. Teachers must be able to educate their students in understanding how to interpret setbacks and to create opportunities in these to learn and improve and continue to keep trying. This mind set in students is vital in their development and growth within the classroom, and being able to see each task as an opportunity to master a skill is an attribute that will see students succeeding throughout their education and further into their chosen careers.

When I am feeling unsure or questioning my skills as a teacher this is what makes me strive to be the best teacher I can be!