Philosophy of Teaching
“No one is born fully-formed: it is through self-experience in the world that we become what we are.” Educator, author, and philosopher Paulo Freire believed that the learner was able to become an agent of change in their community through meaningful experiences facilitated by a powerful teacher. Georgia State University's College of Education has prepared me with a wide range of effective strategies and pedagogical tools to be a lifelong learner and an innovative teacher. In the classroom I am warm and demanding. I am both loving and understanding, yet I can only accept what I know is excellence from each individual learner. As an educator I plan to empower my students through relevant, hands-on, and authentic experiences. Inquiry or project-based learning is one of my favorite ways to engage students in learning activities. In this type of learning students start with the problem and work with myself and their peers to critically think and solve real issues and make changes when applicable. In the midst of these projects students cover state standards and enhance key skills. Similar to Freire, I believe in a critical-social and constructivist philosophy of teaching. This approach to educating facilitates in developing students. especially those of color and those who come from a lower social-economic status, ability to connect learning to power, and therefore make changes in their communities and the world. I do believe that "the flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all".