"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character --- that is the goal of true education."
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
philosophy
Throughout the years of being both a student and teacher, I have learned a great deal about what I believe teaching should be. I have gained great insight from theory-based research, colleagues, professors, and above all, my students. As a lifelong learner and educator, I believe that our philosophies of teaching are never fully formed. They will, and should, continue to grow and develop as we do.
Below are some statements which, according to my own philosophy, are fundamental to teaching and learning.
Below are some statements which, according to my own philosophy, are fundamental to teaching and learning.
- There is no such thing as being "bad at math." Everyone is just as capable of understanding math concepts, but we often believe the previous statement, which causes us to give up before even beginning.
- The way we approach or understand mathematical concepts (or any topic!) is unique to who we are as individuals. The key to thriving within a subject is understanding which approach works for us.
- Education does not happen strictly within the four walls of the classroom---we learn vast amounts of knowledge from our everyday experiences outside of school.
- It is crucial to be able to make connections between this existing knowledge and new knowledge in order to make the new knowledge meaningful.
- Who we are and where we come from has an impact on how we learn. There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all education.
- There is little to be gained from success without failure. It is from mistakes, mishaps, and failure, that we learn. One quote I frequently recite to my students is, "mistakes are proof that you are trying."
- The classroom is a community which fosters this safe, risk-taking environment. As a teacher, you are part of the community and must make your own mistakes and thinking transparent.