Brooke's Philosophy Statement
I believe that educational classrooms function as a colorful garden filled with unique flowers. The gardener must look after, nurture, and nourish the young seedlings in order for them to bud, flourish, and grow. Every aspect of the learning, or growing, process must be in sync for this to happen. Teaching is all about nurturing students into strong individuals.
I believe a good teacher is one who shows passion in what she is teaching. Passion resonates from within and in most cases is contagious. Robert Fried, author of The Heart of Matter, defines passion as “the difference between being remembered as a ‘pretty good teacher’…or [a] person who can open up a new world” (1). I believe that enthusiasm makes learning more exciting and helps students find the pleasure in learning. The gardener must sprinkle energy and enthusiasm onto the seeds to ensure growth. Looking back on my past, I can clearly see the direct correlation between my ever-shifting grades and my mediocre to excellent professors. If there isn’t anyone having fun within the walls of a classroom, then nothing is being accomplished.
I believe a good teacher must treat every student equally and with respect. The garden has a wide variety of flowers ranging from different sizes, colors, pedals, stems, and lengths. Thus is true for students. A good teacher will not “play favorites”. In my younger years, I remember being called the Teacher’s Pet because I got to stand at the front of the line when switching classes. A good teacher will treat all of her students equally, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or culture. Each day I teach, I will try to develop a deep love and respect for my students, myself, and my classroom as a whole.
I believe teachers should begin to learn their students on a deeper level to ensure a trust bond that cannot be broken. This trust bond will be advantageous throughout the school year as the need for communication increases. I believe that no social relationship can take place without communication. A good teacher will always explain, teach, advise, and listen to her students to show that she really cares.
I believe no classroom is complete without sparks of creativity and individuality. Like the colorful garden, students must be allowed to express their creativity in everything they do. My belief that creativity ignites success was inspired by my observations at Sycamore Elementary School where the academically-advanced students (ages 7-8) were painting unique portraits of themselves for Grandparent’s Day. John Dewey once said, “I believe that every teacher should realize…that he [or she] is a social servant set apart for the maintenance of social order and the securing of the right social growth”. As a teacher it is my responsibility to indorse and encourage my students to find who they are as a child, student, and friend through creativity. Both teaching and gardening convey the message that no matter how rough the rainy days, in the end, every flower will blossom.
I believe that educational classrooms function as a colorful garden filled with unique flowers. The gardener must look after, nurture, and nourish the young seedlings in order for them to bud, flourish, and grow. Every aspect of the learning, or growing, process must be in sync for this to happen. Teaching is all about nurturing students into strong individuals.
I believe a good teacher is one who shows passion in what she is teaching. Passion resonates from within and in most cases is contagious. Robert Fried, author of The Heart of Matter, defines passion as “the difference between being remembered as a ‘pretty good teacher’…or [a] person who can open up a new world” (1). I believe that enthusiasm makes learning more exciting and helps students find the pleasure in learning. The gardener must sprinkle energy and enthusiasm onto the seeds to ensure growth. Looking back on my past, I can clearly see the direct correlation between my ever-shifting grades and my mediocre to excellent professors. If there isn’t anyone having fun within the walls of a classroom, then nothing is being accomplished.
I believe a good teacher must treat every student equally and with respect. The garden has a wide variety of flowers ranging from different sizes, colors, pedals, stems, and lengths. Thus is true for students. A good teacher will not “play favorites”. In my younger years, I remember being called the Teacher’s Pet because I got to stand at the front of the line when switching classes. A good teacher will treat all of her students equally, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or culture. Each day I teach, I will try to develop a deep love and respect for my students, myself, and my classroom as a whole.
I believe teachers should begin to learn their students on a deeper level to ensure a trust bond that cannot be broken. This trust bond will be advantageous throughout the school year as the need for communication increases. I believe that no social relationship can take place without communication. A good teacher will always explain, teach, advise, and listen to her students to show that she really cares.
I believe no classroom is complete without sparks of creativity and individuality. Like the colorful garden, students must be allowed to express their creativity in everything they do. My belief that creativity ignites success was inspired by my observations at Sycamore Elementary School where the academically-advanced students (ages 7-8) were painting unique portraits of themselves for Grandparent’s Day. John Dewey once said, “I believe that every teacher should realize…that he [or she] is a social servant set apart for the maintenance of social order and the securing of the right social growth”. As a teacher it is my responsibility to indorse and encourage my students to find who they are as a child, student, and friend through creativity. Both teaching and gardening convey the message that no matter how rough the rainy days, in the end, every flower will blossom.