Future Teaching Philosophy

I believe people who apply themselves can achieve their goals with work and effort. As a high school English teacher, I will encourage my students the value of work. I myself have a hard time remembering things and that is why English is my favorite subject. Also, history works in combination with it and the two subjects change very little. When you know your history, it helps you to get a better understanding of what the literature story refers to. Writing for English requires effort, time, and then you check the grammar of what you have written. The more time and effort you put in your work, the more it will improve. Also, you can always make alterations to your work. Since I have been back in college, criticism from my instructors is making me a stronger person. I really appreciate them for that.

Why I want to be a teacher?

I believe there are many talented young individuals in the world waiting to be discovered. I will get the opportunity to be a positive influence in someone's life. Student's can achieve many good things if they are determined. Also, I will encourage students to keep a positive attitude and outlook on their future. Some students are underestimating themselves and are low achievers because of it. Students are facing so many problems, such as single-parent families, raised by grandparents, low-income, exposure to drug activities, and other obstacles in their everyday life. When students focus on their goals, they can move past these stumbling blocks and be successful achievers. As for myself, I came to the realization that it was actually me that was hindering myself from higher achievements. I had to learn how to press on as far as I could before I thought about turning around. As I look back at the long road behind me, I can see myself alomost there.

Google Earth

Literature stories may appear to be dull and boring to some students. The stories changes very little, if at all. Many works are over one hundred years old. I would like to take students on a virtual field trip before reading works. For instance, I can map out Jane Pitman's travels in The Journey of Jane Pitman by using Google Earth. This will give students a better understanding of the story. Also, there may be historical sights throughout the tour for students to look at. It can be used to create maps pointing out locations referred to in poetry.

Networking

A useful strategy to use in the classroom is networking. This will allow the teacher to stay connected with students and parents to stay connected. I will try to make my network available to all economic levels. Everyone is not going to have the same internet availability. I will try to maintain connections with interested parents by ensuring that there is some form of feedback. I may network with some by internet, written letter, and telephone. Networking will be a useful way to keep an open communication flowing. Hopefully, this will create better students in the classroom.

Self-Regulated Learning

Self-regulated learning (SRL) will be incorporated in my class so that every student will have ample time to complete their assignments. SRL is an important component of classroom instruction. Grammar is an important part of English. As a part of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), special needs students will be included in the regular classroom setting. As a teacher, I have to present the material to the class to accommodate every student. I will send a syllabus home every Friday for the following week. This will allow struggling students to get a head start on their class work. English requires time, but it is not hard work.

Multmedia

Multimedia will be used as a group project to reconstruct literary stories as a presentation to the classroom. This will allow students to feel more like they are a part of the class when they contribute. Literature stories tend to be very old and very uninteresting to students. I will assign literary stories as a group project and each will create a slide presentation telling the story. Pictures and facts relevant to the the story and time the story was written will be required. The group will have to tell the story as they do their presentation. I believe students will learn more from a subject when their peers are involved.

Perception

Perception is a tool I believe will make my classroom instruction successful. If students believe a subject is hard, it can become reality. My first approach to the classroom will be to introduce English as a subject that requires effort and work, but it is not hard. This technique may change the minds of pessimistic students who let their attitudes hinder them in the classroom. Students should go through the class smoothly, because their perception of the subject has been changed for the better. For example, I can introduce an author of a work by picking out characteristics and make him appear cool or hip to the class. It may make the author's story appear to be something that it is not. This concept is not necessarily fooling the students. My mission will be accomplished when I get the attention of my students. I plan to incorporate "Believing is Achieving" as my class motto.

Creativity

Creativity will play a big role in my classroom. Students may find English to be dull and boring. Similar to History, literature does not change, but it can be updated. The material can be boring or dull to many students. The use of bright colors can make material appear more appealing. For instance, I will display a particular fact or something important about a topic discussed on bright colored paper in front of the class. I will alternate the colors to keep students' attention to the importance of the display. Considering that most of literature is very old, it may appear foreign and unfamiliar to this younger generation. I will plan my lectures to present the story in an appealing manner to the class. For example, I can incorporate some of the slang or vernacular this younger generation use in their daily language. This can make old, boring material seem up-to-date in the classroom.