My Philosophy of Education

I believe that all students are unique, and each of those students needs an environment where they feel comfortable taking risks and sharing their ideas and opinions, no matter if they think they are right or wrong so that they can learn and grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. As a teacher, I must learn my students’ learning styles so that I can transform instruction so that each of them is supported and allowed to learn and excel. As the students' guide, I must teach them the skills they need to succeed academically in my and other classrooms and as a member of society where they will be expected to know certain things and have specific qualities. I understand that many people, including my students, think they are bad at math, and I must be a part of the transformation of that idea into students knowing that "they aren't bad at math, they just have had bad experiences with math, and there is always time to change that" (V. Ernandes). The teacher must provide the students with high expectations and do what it takes to help them achieve those expectations to fulfill their positive self-fulfilling prophecies. In my classroom, I want to create a community of progress and learning where students have a safe space to make mistakes and take on challenges that will push them to be their best. 

I want to be a teacher because of my own experience with teachers. Without my high school teachers' help and guidance, I would not be here. In the past, I wasn't keen on going to college and doing the hard work to get where I am now. I didn’t know what I wanted to do after graduating, but I knew it was pushing myself in the way that I have to better my life. I would not change any of the decisions that I have made about my education, and I am so grateful that some pushed me to accomplish so much that I did not know I could. I can thank those who saw my potential and guided me to make a decision that they knew I would be happier with. I want my students to have the same person that they can rely on to make that effort to change the students' lives for the better. Mathematics is the subject that I would like to teach specifically because it is one of the methods that I will be able to reach the students. I have been educated in mathematics, and it will be the thing that I will be able to pass on to my students. Also, the subject is ever-changing and progressing. New ways of teaching and learning mathematics are being created every year, and I know that I would be able to shape the curriculum that I teach to make a difference in how my students learn and understand a concept. Since math is not a favored subject, I would like to change the perception that mathematics is “undoable” and that being good at math is an unattainable goal into a realization that anyone can be good at math.

As a teacher, I want to explore new teaching methods to perfect my classroom management processes and routines and find more ways to introduce and review content with my students. I want to see all the best ways of using technology in my classroom to teach students how to use technology. In my classroom, I will do my best to integrate it flawlessly into varying lesson plans so that students can feel comfortable doing mathematics and get used to discovering new technology platforms. I hope that this will help my students in their post-school life. In the end, I would use all of this to create a portfolio of technology lesson plans and interactive activities for each subject and grade level to have a resource for my colleagues and me to refer to. Another thing I would like to accomplish is creating a space for a community that allows students to empower themselves and their peers through productive collaboration to let them learn from each other through their successes and mistakes.  After gaining some experience as a teacher, I want to become an AVID teacher on top of teaching math. AVID teachers have a unique reach to some students because of the type of program that it is. The AVID organization at each school is a motivating family of students that share their goals and offer support to others, with the teacher at the forefront. 

The purpose of the K-12 schooling system is to provide equal access to the education that all young people deserve regardless of their background. I want to work hard to reach students in my way and offer them a person they can rely on. I want to teach them using the best practices that I can after constant innovation of my knowledge of mathematics education. I want to advocate for my students for equity in their education and help them learn to collaborate with others with different experiences in life than their own, using my classroom as the starting place. I think that with my diverse background and experience, I would bring more perspectives to students, help them through their struggles, and move forward in their lives.