Philosophy of Education

Although I am a Science teacher, I have come to learn that being a teacher is not about the subject you teach.  It is about the students you teach and how you teach them. It is about teaching students to think for themselves.   Today’s students are tomorrow’s future.  They deserve the best that society has to offer.  As a teacher, I believe it is my job to offer my best.  In partnership with the student, parents, and the school, I believe all students can learn when taught well. 

            I believe in order to successfully teach students to be life-long learners a teacher must also be a life-long learner.  Learning didn’t stop with the completion of my Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree.  It continues both formally with further coursework and reading in current educational practice as well as readings in the ever changing world of Science.  Even more important than the formal learning opportunities are the informal ones.  The opportunities to be reflective about my own teaching and what works and what can be improved are what really motivate me.  I can’t expect my students to want to continue to learn and be challenged unless they see me continuing to learn and being challenged.

            Science may not be for everyone, but everyone needs science. As a science teacher, I believe it is my responsibility to prepare students for the world and their future, and understanding science is one of the keys to their preparation for becoming a contributing member of our 21^st Century Global Community.  Students require skills which inherently fall within the study of science and technology.  I believe the role of technology in the classroom should be two fold.  The first is to simplify tasks which has always been the role of technology in society.  The second is to be a resource for research and discovery which is essential for true scientific inquiry to take place.  Through scientific inquiry students learn to question, use field study and lab work to test their hypothesis by designing experiments and investigating questions. This allows the student to take responsibility for their own learning.  From these investigations students will become more proficient in making observations, solving problems and forming theories based on their research. These scientific skills are essential for use in learning both now and in the future.  And hopefully in the process, my students will discover just how much fun science can be.