My Teaching Philosophy
Empower Students with foundational knowledge…
I strongly believe that a teacher should equip students with the foundational knowledge that has been generated over time and offer them a broad access to a wide variety of disciplines. Students should learn the essential subjects of English (Reading and Writing), Mathematics, Science as well as the Arts including Music, Art, and New Technologies. I am inspired by the ideas of the English philosopher, Michael Oakeshott who stressed that a grounding in a certain amount of essential knowledge is important and that all students are entitled to what he called an ‘inheritance’ of knowledge from the civilizations that came before them (Fuller on Oakshott, 1989). That being said, I am a firm advocate of active discovery based learning that all students should be exposed to in order to build this essential knowledge. This understanding was augmented through my first experience of teaching Kindergarten at a private school in Abu Dhabi. I found that the teaching of reading was very structured and skills based. I realized that although the children were learning how to read, they were not deriving pleasure in the process. I started looking for more enjoyable means of teaching reading and found myself introducing many elements that promoted student engagement.
Create Problem Solvers and Critical Thinkers
I find great value in allowing students to be able to think critically, and become active problem solvers that are involved in their daily activities. I like to give students the opportunity to solve problems before giving a solution. When students make an effort at solving a problem first, they are encouraged to think and question the ideas they have on a topic. Even if they arrive at the wrong answers they are more likely to remember the procedure for working on a solution. This approach also helps students take risks in their learning and teaches them that it is all right to make mistakes. This can be done even with the youngest students. In topics covered with lower elementary students, I ask students to anticipate what might happen next in a story or event. Students are encouraged to ask questions and discuss their reasons for their predictions.
Pave the way with Technology
It is also essential that students learn how to effectively use technology. In a world where digital technology is expanding, students who are not up to date with technology will be those who will be left behind.
Build Character and Empathy
Teachers should also help develop good character in the child equipping him or her with the traits of goodness such as honesty, integrity, kindness and loyalty. In an age where traditional character forming institutions are crumbling, education must step in to substitute these traits for the child. I admire Howard Gardner’s view in his book ‘Truth, Beauty, and Goodness Reframed’ where he calls for ‘constructive engagement’ a process that replaces the string of orders that tell students what to do and what not to do, and instead helps them discuss, debate, listen to opposing viewpoints and come to solid moral conclusions (Gardner, 147). This is something I like to practice with my own children. Often when they come back from school and describe an incident that has happened, we will discuss the issue and try and see how it could have been handled differently and how the other person might have perceived it. This discussion helps them to see things from the other person’s point of view and to foster empathy towards others. This for me is an essential characteristic that children must develop to be able to live in a multicultural global society.
As a teacher therefore my main aim is to help nurture students to achieve the academic, skills, and character that they need to strive in our modern world.