Personal Philosophy

Not all students have the same resources or capabilities in math. As a math teacher, it's important to build confidence and motivation in every student. Math can be overwhelming, but with encouragement, students can surprise themselves with what they can learn. My knowledge of learning theories will help support student success. I will use repetition, group work, discussions, real-world examples, and reflection to close the learning gaps. Teaching at the secondary level allows me to address gaps from elementary years. It is my belief that all students want to learn, want to be engaged, want to be good and do good. But not all students enter the math classroom with the same capabilities and not all students have the same resources outside the classroom to support their learning. To be an intermediate math teacher, it takes not only an ability to understand and teach the math curriculum, but to also be able to build up confidence and bring motivation to every student in the classroom. I recognize that math can be a very overwhelming and frustrating challenge for many students, but I also believe that if those same students are instilled with the courage and the belief that they can achieve within the math classroom, that they will be able to move forward and surprise themselves with what they can learn. My own personal understanding of learning theories can help support student success and assist with closing the gap for the students within my classroom. By being aware and assuring that my lessons and delivery are filled with repetition, individual and group work, class-wide discussions, real-world comparisons, choices for students and opportunities for students to reflect on their learning and mistakes. As I will be teaching students at the secondary level, I can ensure that I am providing these opportunities and ensuring that I can help close the gaps that have been building up over the course of a student's elementary years.