I believe that all individuals are unique and the same goes for students. Part of students’ uniqueness is their difference in their skills, talents, and the way they learn. In other words, I recognize that all students have their own strengths and weaknesses and that they learn through different ways.
As a teacher, I then try to bring out the best in my students by allowing them to be themselves and to use whatever skills and talents they have. I allow them autonomy when they work on school requirements so that they can decide for themselves how they can best complete their tasks. I also allow them flexibility in completing their school tasks by not having rigid requirements. I allow them to complete school projects by using the best skills and talents that they have, whether it’s through arts, written text, or other forms of expression. I also try to applaud them for their strengths and encourage them to improve on their weaknesses. I allow them to excel through the use of their talents and gifts and do not punish them for their challenges. I show them that I believe in their capabilities and that they can succeed. I know that this will help motivate them to keep doing well in their studies.
I also believe that students have various ways of learning and that what might be an effective learning method for one won’t necessarily be as effective for another. As such, I try to incorporate as many teaching methods in my classes as possible in order for me to gauge which methods my students respond to the most. This will allow me to make adjustments in the way I teach so that my students may be able to get the most from my classes. I also teach my students the various learning techniques and metacognitive strategies so that they can decide for themselves how they can learn best. This will allow them to get to know themselves better. Moreover, once the students learn these techniques then they can use such techniques for advancing themselves in their future academic and professional endeavors.
Needless to say, I am a great believer that students should be prepared to deal with the real world. In the real world, they have no teachers to provide them with guidance whenever they need it. In the real world, nobody will tell them how to reach their goals. In the real world, they are bound to encounter a lot of challenges and difficulties that they may have never encountered while they were in school. As such, I believe that my role as a teacher is not only to teach students the academic subjects such as science, math, and literature. On the contrary, I believe that my role as a teacher is to help students prepare for life in the real world and to do this, I need to help them develop an appreciation of themselves where they are able to utilize their strengths and their gifts for their own advancement. I also think that it’s important for me to teach them soft skills such as problem solving skills, communication skills, and conflict resolution skills,, which will help them through the many challenges they are bound to encounter in life.
