Personal Philosophy of Teaching Assignment Directions
This week, you will develop your personal philosophy of teaching in a written statement, articulating your beliefs about important educational theories and practices. Your teaching philosophy should be based on what is meaningful to you in your approach to teaching.
Note: As your experiences and beliefs about teaching grow and change, your philosophy will also change. Therefore, at the end of this course, you will submit your revised teaching philosophy with a brief discussion of how your philosophy has changed or developed during this course.
There is no right or wrong way to write a personal teaching philosophy. However, for the purpose of this assignment, please follow the assignment guidelines below to connect your beliefs, goals, and strategies into a coherent approach to help students learn and grow.
Assignment Guidelines
Philosophy Paper Requirements
The paper should be 2–4 pages, typed in Times New Roman using 12-point font, and double-spaced with 1″ margins.
Use a first person narrative and present tense.
Write sincerely, uniquely, and memorably. Avoid clichés, jargon, and technical terms.
Include specific (not abstract) ideas, using 1–2 concrete examples, whether actual or anticipated experiences.
Show humility and mention students enthusiastically.
Include your conception of how learning occurs.
Communicate your goals as an instructor.
Include actual or anticipated teaching strategies and methods.
Include justification for why you teach (or anticipate teaching) the way you do.
Include a brief discussion of how your teaching (or anticipated teaching) facilitates student learning.
Include a conclusion.
To assist you in developing your teaching philosophy, you may choose to include any or all of the following:
Famous quotes
Your personal experiences as a learner
Your views of the educational system
Your interest in new types of teaching and learning
What you think students should expect from you as a teacher
How you know your goals for students are being met
How you create (or anticipate creating) an engaging or enriching learning environment, and specific activities or exercises to engage your students
