My Teaching Philosophy

    Teaching is something that I believe not everyone can or should do. The basis of my teaching philosophy is knowing how lucky I am to be able to shape the young minds of the future and being able to work with the students to create a safe environment for everyone to grow and learn. I want students to leave my classroom and know that they are not only learning the required standards but also gain a better sense of who they are. Especially when it comes to teaching theatre, emotional learning is just as important as learning what is required for the students. I want students to be able to come into my classroom and feel like they are in a safe place. Working with the students to help their creativity and ideas grow and foster will not only help them to feel more confident in sharing their ideas but will also help to create a teacher-student relationship that builds trust and fosters growth. Along with student growth, I am a teacher that is open to learning new things and adapting as the year goes along. I have always been a go with the flow type of person and I incorporate that into my teaching and directing style. Being open to ideas, letting the students take lead when necessary, ebbing and flowing, but knowing when to stand my ground. 

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    As I have grown as a teacher, I am still finding my classroom management style. When I first started I was so quick to feel like I always needed control of my students and the class as a whole. The more I taught, the more I learned that is not always possible. Classroom management should be attained by creating a fun environment, getting to know each of the students, and setting boundaries together as a class at the beginning of the school year. With a fun environment the students are willing to work with me as the teacher. I give them the chance to use more kinesthetic learning and help them to grow in their creative side. Getting to know the students helps me as a teacher to know what works best for each student and what I should avoid. It also helps give the students a sense of connection to each other and me as a teacher. If you do not know your students, there is no way you will be a successful teacher, both on your end, and the students will see right through you. Lastly, I like to create a community agreement list at the beginning of the school year that is ever changing and growing with the class as a whole. Each class will have their own set of community agreements that they can add to throughout the school year. This gives the students authority over the classroom and helps them to feel like they are creating a space where they want to belong. 

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    Speech is one of the most important things you will need to continue to succeed in the future. I make sure each of my students understand the importance of public speaking and how it will affect their future lives. I know that not every student feels comfortable public speaking so I give my students a comfortable and welcoming space to grow and learn. I give them many opportunities to grow in their strengths and learn new skills throughout the course. I cater my classes to the students, meaning that we work on real life applications. We review how to interview, give professional presentations, and grow communication skills to help them succeed both in and out of school. This gives the students a sense of understanding of why speech is important and applies outside of the classroom. That is something students really want to see, how it is going to help them and why they should take the class. Having that mutual understanding helps the students to do better in class. 

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    As a teacher, it is important to show you care both in and out of the classroom. Being able to support my students at their extracurricular activities, in their other classes, and throughout the school year, even if they are no longer in my class, is something I focus on. I know that a lot of students do not get the outside support they deserve from their friends or family. I want to be the person rooting them on from the sidelines. Every student deserves someone who is on their side no matter what. If I can spark a little bit of joy in every one of my students lives, whether it be big or small, that is how I know I am fulfilling my duties as an educator. 

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     Overall, I know that every student that walks through my door isn’t going to leave loving theatre or speech as much as I do, and that is okay. If my students leave my class with a better understanding of who they are as a person, learned a little bit more about themselves, and unlocked a part of their creativity they may have not known they had, I will be happy. I want to cultivate a feeling of kindness and growth within my classroom. I want students to know that it is okay to be vulnerable in my classroom. It is okay to feel their emotions in full, act silly in front of their peers, and to push their boundaries outside of their comfort zone. My classroom is one of fun, safety, growth, and love.