Running Header: TEACHING AS A LEARNER

Teaching as a Learner

Philosophy Statement

Audrey Roesner

Chandler - Gilbert Community College

Fall 2019
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I believe we learn best when we can see the usage of what we are learning outside of

class and further relate it to our lives. This style of learning coincides most closely to the

progressivism philosophy of learning, the style of learning emphasizing on experiences before

memorization. My style of teaching relies heavily on getting students out of their chairs and

comfort zones, letting them interact with others and the classroom. I also believe students can

benefit greatly from collaborating with the teacher to find teaching styles that best relate to their

learning styles.I believe that the best learners make the most successful teachers.

The five education philosophies taught in the third chapter of TEACH written by Janice

Koch are all very useful and success proving, but in my specific case I found that progressivism

best suits my teaching and learning style. The four other philosophies focus more on student

scores and changing a students learning focus to a more traditional outlook. Although I do

believe a good look into the past is the best prediction for the future, I do think students should

focus forward and learn for the future. The progressivism style of teaching requires something

unique to be most effective, if a teacher employing this philosophy does not know his or her

students then relating to them will not be easy and will often miss the mark. Having positive

relationships with your students is the only way to be able to teach relating to their specific lives

and experiences. You have to know the students to teach in a way that relates to the students.

I believe students will best learn if they are taught with the rest of their lives in mind not

just to pass the next grade. We always hear teachers say, I’m just getting you ready for second

grade, third grade, junior high or even high school. Once we are in high school teachers say the

same, and for some students that is just fine, college might be the only future they have planned,

but others might be diving into the workforce. What can we change to teach for their lives, we
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need to give reasons outside of college, students often get frustrated asking what am I even

learning these things for? If we just provide application as we learn we might be able to motivate

the students that aren’t looking for education past a GED. One way I plan on avoiding this is to

constantly collaborate with my class and give them as many chances as possible to make

decisions about what is brought into the classroom or the styles of lessons used.

Giving students reasons why they need to learn and the teachers ability to relate past

learning to new information will create the most successful students. I can remember back to my

own learning experience at the lessons I can still remember a decade or longer since I was taught.

The colorful yet well supported lectures, or self reflective assignments were the most enjoyable

and memorable in a way that related to me specifically and impacted me in a very real and

relatable sense. When I become a teacher I plan on having daily out-of-seat activities and

assignments, giving students plenty of chances to collaborate with others through group work,

and letting them get hands on experiences that will help them to love being in class. To teach in a

way that not only relates to a students past experiences but also builds new positive ones in the

classroom will create a drive for learning in the students that no other philosophy can.

Teaching students to love learning is very different from teaching long division, but with

a little collaboration both goals can be met simultaneously. The progressivism style of teaching

reaches all types of learners once relationships are formed. If I am able to teach in a relatable,

student oriented, and future forward way then my students will be able to leave class with a

deeper grasp and understanding of my lessons and will hopefully love learning just as much as I

do.
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Works Cited :

Koch, J. (2016). Teach³: Introduction to Education (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.