Teaching
Concepts and Philosophies
How am I to teach and how do I know what
to teach? One fact that I hope to remember all my life is, “Everyone can learn
but everyone learns differently”. The challenge for me is figuring out how I am
going to help each of my students learn. Being in the twenty-first century has
provided me with new ways to teach. Instead of chalkboards and overheads, there
are now smartboards, elmos, clickers, iPads and many other technologies that should
make it easier for me to teach my students. By implementing different ways of
teaching into my curriculum I should be able to effectively help myself and my
students. In the book by B. Ackerman
(2012), she used a chart by H. Gardner, which showed the different types of
learners. There are seven types of learners mentioned: Linguistic, Musical,
Logical-Mathematical, Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, and
Intrapersonal. When looking at the chart it shows different ways that I can
teach best to each individual learner. Once I identify the ways my students
learn I can use these ways to teach my students. According to G.W. Clough
(2008), professors are finding that many of their students have not learned to
think for themselves. He suggests that teachers take the time to have students
think about things from a new perspective to allow students to increase their
thinking skill. He also suggests that teachers of kindergarteners even have their
students learn to think for themselves by looking at how different
circumstances could have changed a story. Therefore teachers should not only
teach to the student’s best style but also encourage their students to think
for themselves and to ask questions.
There is a common conflict on what students
should be taught. In my opinion students should be taught all core subjects (math,
history, science and English) and also be given electives. Electives should
include at least a few of the following: art (ceramics, drama, drawing, and
music), language (Spanish, French, and Chinese etc.), gym, keyboarding,
driver’s education, and home economics. I acknowledge that some teachers feel
that the electives are a waste of time. While the core subjects are important,
the electives allow students to grow in other areas, while still applying parts
of the core classes. For example, a student may love to draw and while they are
in art class they will learn to apply proportions into their drawing. Without
the student directly learning math, they are improving on something they enjoy
and putting to use a core subject. The elective also allow the student to try
new things. All of the elective in one way or another include parts of the core
subjects and are also helping the student prepare for life outside of the classroom.
I
also think Career and Technical Education should also be incorporated into the
curriculum. The following are just of the few of many careers that students can
leave high school certified in: Heating and Air conditioning, Nursing, Cosmetology,
Computer, Auto, and Welding. If a certification in these fields or one similar,
they then have the qualifications to get a job in that occupation. Although the
job is probably minimum wage, they then have accomplished the first step to a
successful future, which could include working their way up the career ladder
or even paying their way through college. Another benefit of taking the career or
technical education is the opportunity to try the career before committing
one’s life to something the student has never worked in. I found this true when
I studied nursing in high school. I took the nursing class my junior and
qualified for senior year. These classes helped me to get hands on experience
in the profession I thought I wanted to do. I was able to practice the nursing
skills I was learning on classmates, nursing home residents, and hospital
patients. Through my experiences I found that nursing was not the field I was
passionate for but I was given the opportunity to take and pass my Certified
Nursing Assistance exam. This certificate allowed my classmates and me to begin
applying for jobs in the nursing homes or hospitals as a CNA’s just weeks after
graduation. Now even though I did not pursue the nursing career the chance to
work in my chosen career allow me to get a taste of what I was signing up for. Had
I not taken the nursing class in high school and learned nursing was not what I
wanted to do, I would probably still be working on obtaining my Registered
Nurse Degree right now.
While all students have different
way of learning most students learn under similar conditions. In relation to
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs by S. McLeod (2014), I believe that no matter how
good of a teacher I am, I will be ineffective to teach my students until their
basic needs are met. This means if my student is not getting adequate rest at
home, is hungry, scared, or not getting proper love; they are not ready to
learn. In order for them to be receptive to learn, their basic needs must be
met. Also according to the hierarchy a child must feel safe. If a child does
not feel comfortable, whether with me or other students, they are not going to
be concerned about anything that is taught. Therefore, the ideal conditions for
students to learn include having a full belly, sufficient sleep, a caring
teacher, as well as a clean and safe work environment.
To become the greatest and most
effective teacher I feel I need these qualities. As a teacher I will be working
with children all day every day, therefore I need to love kids. I need to make
learning fun, if I am bored teaching the material I need to make it interesting
and fun. I need to be kind in how I talk, teach, correct and discipline. I
should not be a pushover, I should always do things so the statement “I am
doing this to better my students” is always true. I need to be a hard worker;
there is always something to be done even when my class is not in the room, I
have lessons to plan, papers to grade, or students to counsel. I also need to be good at classroom
management. I should be able to get control of the classroom even in the most
chaotic events. I need to show respect for my students, I cannot expect them to
respect me if I am not willing to respect them. The famous verse from The Holy
Bible (2001), “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” in Luke 6:31,
applies. If I do not show my students respect why would I expect them they
respect me? I need to have such an interest in what I am teaching my enthusiasm
for the subject(s) will become my students’ enthusiasm. I need to have
patience, if a student does not comprehend the lesson that has been taught, I
needs to be willing to work with the student until the student clearly
understand what was taught. Although this can be very time consuming, my job is
to teach to be understood, not just teach to say I have taught.
References
Clough, W. G. (2008, October).
WANTED: Well-Rounded Students Who Can Think. ProQuest- The Education Digest.
Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/218180585?pq-origsite=summon
"Educating for Success." G.U.I.D.E. Differentiated
Instruction for Christian Educators. By Beth Ackerman. Vol. 1st. Lynchburg:
Liberty University Press, 2012. 35-40. Print.
McLeod, Saul A. "Maslow's Hierarchy of
Needs." Maslow's
Hierarchy of Needs | Simply Psychology. N.p., 2014. Web. 3 Feb. 2015. <http://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html>.
(2001). Luke 6:31. Holy Bible New International
Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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