As a teacher-to-be, I believe that my teaching philosophy is rooted in the metaphor of being a gardener, helping to foster the growth and development of all the young minds I will come across. Just as a gardener carefully and thoughtfully tends to each seed, giving nourishment, support, and a safe environment to grow and flourish, I too see myself as helping to build and make the fertile soil that my, one day, students will stand on.
My personal perception of teaching is like that of planning seeds of creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking. I believe that each one of my students is their own, unique seed with untapped potential just waiting to be nurtured and cared for. As a gardener learns to understand and look for the distinct needs of various plants, I also want to strive to both recognize and cater to the individual learning styles of all my soon-to-be students. With this personal attention in mind, I want to create a warm environment where each student feels valued and powerful enough to bloom in their own, special way. I also believe that education and teaching can help to transform students. As a gardener helps to guide and shape the hanging tendrils of a climbing plant, I too want to provide costume structure and support to my students, helping them to reach new heights. I want to help foster an atmosphere that encourages students to not only learn and grow from me, but also from each other. As a gardener has to wait for the right season to plant, I also understand that I need to have patience when teaching. Mistakes are always going to happen, but just like a gardener planting two wrong flowers side-by-side, I can learn and grow from these experiences.
In conclusion, my teaching philosophy revolves around the metaphor of being a gardener, making an environment where each one of my students can grow and bloom into their full selves. By recognizing that each individual has their own needs, I can provide them with support, structure, and showers of love. With my sun-protection hat on and a new day looming ahead of me, I will always tend to my garden, no matter rain or shine.