help how to write philosophy of teaching statement

1. 1ALBON/EACE 481/2011

2. DEFINITION
 TPs express your values and beliefs about teaching
 TPs are personal statements that
 Introduce you as a teacher (to your reader)
 Written in first person
 Convey a confident and professional tone
 They contain specific examples to illustrate your points
 They illustrate how your values and beliefs fit into your
ECE area (or primary)
2ALBON/EACE 481/2011

3. Getting Started
no 1
1. Draw a mind map to
cluster your beliefs
and values together.
2. What do I mean by
learning?
3. What happens in a
successful learning
situation?
4. List your values,
beliefs and
aspirations as a
teacher
 Answer these questions using key
words or phrases. Be clear you
understand learning and mastery.
 Consider mastery, life-long
learning, transformational
learning, constructivist learning,
play based learning) see text p75-82
 What does a perfect teaching
situation look like? Why consider
this?
 Are you a coach, general,
entertainer, martyr…what?
3ALBON/EACE 481/2011

4. Keep going
No 2
1. What are your
goals for
students – the
young children
you teach?
 What skills should students obtain
as a result of your teaching?
 Think of the ideal student and
what your outcomes would be for
this student.
 What methods and pedagogy will
you use so students learn and you
achieve your planned goals and
objectives?
 Think of goals for specific classes,
kind of student, the curricula and
your rationale for these (critical
thinking, problem solving,
independent learning…)
4ALBON/EACE 481/2011

5. And more to think
about…..No 3
What methods
will you use to
reach these
goals and
achieve personal
objectives?
 What are your beliefs
regarding various learning
theories? And schools and
particular methods of
teaching and learning? Eg
group work, role play, learning
a second language, use of
realia etc )
5ALBON/EACE 481/2011

6. Are you still
thinking? No 4
How do you
interact with
students?
 What are your attitudes
towards telling or suggesting
to students; advising and
coaching?
 What would an observer see
when you interact with
students?
 Why do you want to work
with students?
6ALBON/EACE 481/2011

7. Yes… still more
No 5
How will you assess
student
understanding?
What are your beliefs
about marking and
grading for these
young children?
Do use criterion or
norm referenced
marking?
 Think of all the types or ways
you assess..why these ?
 Do you use case studies,
portfolios, presentations,
7ALBON/EACE 481/2011

8. Lastly…No 6.
How have you
grown as a
teacher and
how will
continue to
grow?
How do you know
you have
taught
effectively?
 Comment on the goals you
have for yourself for the future
 How might you reach these
goals?
 Comment on the changes and
growth in your attitudes
toward teaching and learning
over time?
 What is the role of reflection
and student/parent
evaluation in future teaching?
8ALBON/EACE 481/2011

9. TASK
Write a short
paragraph on
each of the 6
points
 Read through these and
highlight any re-occurring
words.
 Decide whether you might
group these together as one or
more themes.
9ALBON/EACE 481/2011

10. Task 2
Now add
specific
examples to
your
paragraphs
 I value helping my students
understand difficult concepts. I am
extremely competent at
understanding their development
in various cognitive areas and
learning domains.
 Given this statement how would
you describe what happens in your
classroom? Is your description
specific enough to bring the scene
to life in a teaching philosophy?
10ALBON/EACE 481/2011

11. TASK 3
Now you
need to
assess your
draft: Use the
checklist
presented on
the next 4
slides and the
rubrics on
the 3
handouts.
Teaching Philosophy Checklist
Purpose & Audience
Given the intended audience and
purpose that the writer has shared
with you:
 Is there a clear focus or theme(s)?
 Are the language and tone
appropriate without relying on trite
phrases or jargon?
 Would it hold the audience's
attention?
11ALBON/EACE 481/2011

12. Checklist
Is it "authentic"
- focused on
the
writer and
personal? Do
you have an
idea
of who this
person is as a
teacher (or
aspires to be)?
Voice
 Does the writer reveal self and
personal/political/pedagogical
commitments?
 Is enthusiasm for teaching
evident?
 Does it sound as though the
writer cares about the beliefs
expressed and the arguments
being made?
 Would you like to take a course
taught by the writer?
12ALBON/EACE 481/2011

13. Beliefs
/Arguments
/Claims &
Illustrative
Support
 Does it detail what the writer believes in a way that is engaging,
specific, and easy to understand?
 Does it detail why and how these beliefs are held?
 Does it define the writer's goals for and expectations of learners?
 Are the beliefs/arguments/claims grounded in the writer's discipline?
 Is the relationship between the writer's discipline and beliefs about
teaching and learning made clear?
 Are the beliefs/arguments/claims supported by evidence, examples,
anecdotes, etc.?
 Are there specific examples of strategies, methods, or theories used to
achieve teaching and learning goals and to help students meet or
exceed expectations?
13ALBON/EACE 481/2011

14. Conventions
 Are headings, transitions, and paragraph design
appropriate to the content?
 Are length and thematic structure appropriate
to the content?
 Are the elements presented in a parallel style
and format across and within
sections/paragraphs?
 Are there any distracting grammatical,
typographical, or spelling errors?
Center for Teaching and Learning
University Office Plaza, Suite 400, 2221 University Ave. S.E.,
Minneapolis, MN 55414
14ALBON/EACE 481/2011

15. Task 4
Review the
following example
 Read the sample page
philosophy
 Use the rubrics to rate the
quality of this sample
statement
15ALBON/EACE 481/2011

16. TASK 5
Complete your
own statement of
teaching
philosophy.
 Use all the acquired
information to help
you review and write
several drafts
16ALBON/EACE 481/2011