Teaching Philosophy
Reading, analyzing, and writing texts is a crucial component in maturity and growth as a human being. Whether a student decides to go to college or not, everyone should obtain the skills to read the words and world around them. My job as an English teacher goes beyond teaching students higher-level reading and writing skills. I want to cultivate critical thinkers, powerful people, and morally conscious individuals.
I understand the importance of preparing students for college level writing, standardized tests, etc. These writing skills will help students score higher on their ACTs and become comfortable in college level writing tasks. However, I also understand the importance of writing for the self. Students are forming their identities—who they are in the world—and their ideas that shape their outlook on life. Thus, there must be a balance within the instruction of writing between creative and formal/academic writing. Creative writing teaches students how to find their voice in the written language. Once students become aware of their voice in writing, formal/academic writing becomes clearer. Writing successful formal/academic papers is a difficult task, and to be honest, very few people become masters at such a task. My job as a teacher is to make students as most comfortable as possible with writing formally/academically. This is why I believe creative writing is crucial in a student’s development to become successful writers. I want students to become confident with their own voices in writing, so when they sit down to take the written portion of the ACT exam, write a letter to a congressman, or take on a college writing assignment, each one of my students will feel like they are a powerful writing warrior. In other words, I aim to provide my students with self-agency. I don’t want my students to feel that their voices are weak.
As for reading and analyzing, I utilize each text that I bring into my classroom. Texts are more than just words and letters. Advertisements, movies, paintings, and even tattoos are considered texts to me that students must learn how to analyze, interpret, and understand how to read. By learning these skills, students will be much more prepared to enter the world beyond the school setting. Students will not always have to read and analyze a piece of literature, but they will always be surrounded by advertisements, etc. Also, great analytical and reading skills in other areas, not only in literature, generate critical thinkers that can use these skills in all areas of study and occupation. People in business and in medicine, construction workers, and everyone else should be taught how to critically think. I don’t use the literature in class to teach literature to the class. Rather, I use the literature to guide my students into reaching high levels of cognitive function.
Language constructs every idea, thought, and opinion that students have. Being an English teacher, my job is to make sure students are better able to express and communicate themselves through language—making their voices louder and stronger. Like I mentioned before, I see everything as a text—not just words and letters. My job is to make the text that surrounds students everyday less confusing and more distinguishable. I want students to be able to recognize a problem and have the skills to resolve it with confidence.
I understand the importance of preparing students for college level writing, standardized tests, etc. These writing skills will help students score higher on their ACTs and become comfortable in college level writing tasks. However, I also understand the importance of writing for the self. Students are forming their identities—who they are in the world—and their ideas that shape their outlook on life. Thus, there must be a balance within the instruction of writing between creative and formal/academic writing. Creative writing teaches students how to find their voice in the written language. Once students become aware of their voice in writing, formal/academic writing becomes clearer. Writing successful formal/academic papers is a difficult task, and to be honest, very few people become masters at such a task. My job as a teacher is to make students as most comfortable as possible with writing formally/academically. This is why I believe creative writing is crucial in a student’s development to become successful writers. I want students to become confident with their own voices in writing, so when they sit down to take the written portion of the ACT exam, write a letter to a congressman, or take on a college writing assignment, each one of my students will feel like they are a powerful writing warrior. In other words, I aim to provide my students with self-agency. I don’t want my students to feel that their voices are weak.
As for reading and analyzing, I utilize each text that I bring into my classroom. Texts are more than just words and letters. Advertisements, movies, paintings, and even tattoos are considered texts to me that students must learn how to analyze, interpret, and understand how to read. By learning these skills, students will be much more prepared to enter the world beyond the school setting. Students will not always have to read and analyze a piece of literature, but they will always be surrounded by advertisements, etc. Also, great analytical and reading skills in other areas, not only in literature, generate critical thinkers that can use these skills in all areas of study and occupation. People in business and in medicine, construction workers, and everyone else should be taught how to critically think. I don’t use the literature in class to teach literature to the class. Rather, I use the literature to guide my students into reaching high levels of cognitive function.
Language constructs every idea, thought, and opinion that students have. Being an English teacher, my job is to make sure students are better able to express and communicate themselves through language—making their voices louder and stronger. Like I mentioned before, I see everything as a text—not just words and letters. My job is to make the text that surrounds students everyday less confusing and more distinguishable. I want students to be able to recognize a problem and have the skills to resolve it with confidence.