richmeg’s blog

Philosphy of Teaching Writing

Philosophy of Teaching Writing

 

                Every teacher creates a philosophy of teaching that they believe will best help students learn. These philosophies will vary depending on the person or even the subject matter they are pursuing. For my philosophy of teaching writing I have chose to focus on the three key elements I believe will make me the most effective teacher I can be and will promote successful student learning. The three elements include motivating students through involvement, creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable learning community, and finally to develop challenged and successful writers through modeling. I value students being at the center of the learning process that will be motivated and challenged by the materials and activities I present.

 

·         Creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable learning community is the most important aspect of any area of study. Whether it is an AP Biology class or an introductory writing class, creating an environment where students feel safe and comfortable to share their thoughts is the most important element. I believe students will most effectively if they are willing to share and discuss. Creating a good rapport with students from day one is at the heart of this idea. Students need to feel like the teacher cares about them, as a result they will be more invested in creating good work. Stepping out of one’s comfort zone can be a challenge for some people, but by doing this the student will not only find success in their work but they will also grow as a person. I will implement activities that ask student to step out of their comfort zone while having fun. If someone if having fun and enjoying what they are doing they will be more motivated as a result.

 

·         Motivating students through involvement will be easier to accomplish if a safe and comfortable learning environment is set in motion first. I have found that people will be more motivated to do things they are interested in or feel personally connected to. For example, I have been recently been exposed to the idea of critical questioning. This entails having students formulate their own questions in their writing. I value this idea because if the students pose their own questions they feel more connected to their work. Another example would be having students choose their own topics to write on. Providing prompts and ideas for students to work with not only is tedious but is does not involve the students to think on a personal level. When students are motivated they will be more successful writers.

 

·         I feel as if I am a very motivated person who likes having fun and can make others laugh. Possessing these qualities will allow me to be an effective teacher. I believe modeling behavior in the classroom is one of teacher’s primary duties. I hope to develop challenged and motivated learners through modeling my expectations. Not only do I believe that modeling behavior is important, but other aspects as well. I will model behavior such as, motivation, respect, a positive attitude, and the writing process as a well. By modeling these behaviors the students will always know my expectations. I want my students to be challenged and successful and I think the key to that starts with modeling.