In teacher's college we were encouraged to develop a teaching philosophy: a paragraph to describe our intentions as teachers.
Maybe it's because I'm still a new teacher, but my philosophy keeps changing. When I first wrote my philosophy, I felt reluctant to share it with others, thinking that it was presumptuous of me to develop an ideal of teaching when I hadn't yet gained much experience in the field.
I imagine that 15 years from now, I'll still feel like a new teacher. Perhaps it's a side effect of committing yourself to life-long learning? You must always be finding new ways to struggle and get better at what you do.
This is the philosophy I have developed (so far) for teaching:
I believe that teaching is a collaboration between teachers, students, community partners, families and their school that must always keep student success and wellbeing as the focus. I believe that learning is a fundamental part of what makes us human and that it is fostered by the intoxicating pull of exploration, a sense of connectedness and an understanding of real-world purposes. As a teacher, I believe it is my duty to create a space that nurtures these ideals, to encourage each student to dream big, to illuminate multiple pathways that can lead to their goals and help them practice the skills that will prepare them to overcome any obstacle they may face along their way.