Stacey Haines
EDU 275, Fall
10/28/08
Teaching Philosophy
The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing.
-Marcus Aurelius
As a teacher, I believe that all students are able to learn and have the right to
learn. The purpose of education is to raise student’s intellect, integrity and understanding
of the world in which they live, but never is this to be taken lightly. Teaching some
students is like walking in Paris on a beautiful, warm spring day, while others is like
walking from one end of Russia to the other in January. Like Marcus Aurelius says,
“living is more like wrestling than dancing.” A teaching career could begin as a waltz,
until a student comes from behind, tackling you, and you must quickly regain your
footing for the next attack. Being a teacher is figuring out how to stay on top at all times,
while incorporating new moves, strategies, and teaching techniques that will help
students master the art of wrestling, and living.
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The
other is as though everything is a miracle.
-Albert Einstein
Children are naturally curious about the world around them. The role of students
is to stay curious. I have noticed that as I grew older, I believed that I knew it all, had
seen it all, and done it all. Somewhere in my academic career I lost my curiosity. Now, as
a teacher, I have found that everything is a miracle. Going into my classroom and seeing
students struggle for so long, and then suddenly the light bulb comes on is the miracle.
That struggling student who succeeded sparked my curiosity in the world again. The
student who has a difficult time spelling gets a passing grade, another who struggles with
motivation, has found something to light his fire, and the English learner answers a
classroom wide question without hesitation. Working with students is a miracle because
they surprise you everyday, and again I am curious to what each student I encounter will
surprise me with, good or bad, as long as they are curious and always questioning.
All our dreams can come true, if we have the power to pursue them.
-Walt Disney
Every parent wants their child to do better than what they have accomplished in
their lives. The role of families in my classroom will be inclusive and open. Parents know
their child best and a teacher has only nine short months with them. Without parents and
their community, teachers will not be able to help students create their own dreams. Our
first dreams are our parent’s, and we create our own dreams from experience, school and
society. Parents of diverse backgrounds are important as they bring a new experiences
and understanding to our community, creating a larger, more complete support system. A
support system is crucial to a well balanced classroom, and parents are the best
