In this week’s post, please post a rough draft of your Teaching Philosophy Statement. While you may have already created one for teaching composition in general, I ask that you revise and expand to have your statement reflect on teaching basic writing (or learning support classes to accompany composition classes) based on readings and ideas covered in this class.
A teaching philosophy statement is a roughly 2 – 3 page typed, double spaced statement of your views about teaching and learning.
You may have already created a Teaching Philosophy Statement in English 6300 (if you have previously taken that class); you are free to use ideas you developed there, but this time, please focus on teaching a learning support class and the ideas we have been discussing relative to teaching learning support writing classes.
While you may use a variety of methods to write your statement, here are a few things to keep in mind based on the content from the Cornell website listed below.
Required Components of a teaching philosophy statement:
- educational purpose and learning goals for students in Learning Support writing environment
- your teaching methods; how you envision your classroom as a system (learning focused, student focused, etc.)
- pedagogical principles for teaching writing (process approach?)
- your core beliefs and/or values about teaching and learning and the importance of teaching and learning in English (views about the importance of higher ed? about individual fulfillment? about critical thinking? about independence of thought? about intellectual curiosity? discovery? about the power of writing and communication? about application of essential skills in life and work?)
Don’t be afraid to let your personality come through. Your statement should be unique to you. If you are passionate about teaching, then that passion should come through. If you are excited to see the “light bulb” come on in your students, then show that excitement. Feel free to discussion what went well (or didn’t) in your own learning process — and where you drew inspiration along the way.
Information on creating Teaching Philosophy Statement: https://gradschool.cornell.edu/career-and-professional-development/pathways-to-success/prepare-for-your-career/take-action/teaching-philosophy-statement/
Writing Statements of Teaching Philosophy – Purdue OWL® – Purdue University
One thing to keep in mind as you assemble your portfolio is to reflect on the ways in which each section of the portfolio integrates with your teaching philosophy statement. For example, in the Teaching Philosophy Statement, if you say that you want to lead a “learning centered classroom,” where you teach basic writing as a “process,” and where you treat students with respect, then we might would expect to see a sample assignment where the essay is taught as a “process,” where feedback is offered on an assignment that is not simply punitive but that can help students learn, and — eventually — where on student evaluations students agree that you treat students with respect. In other words, the course portfolio helps us self-reflect and find out if we are doing what we theoretically want to do — or expect ourselves to do — in the class.
Having these documents and some teaching practice under your belt will pay off if you decide to go on the job market, either as a part-time faculty member at the college level or as a full-time faculty member. Most hiring committees at colleges and universities require a teaching philosophy statement be included as part of an application package. Having a course portfolio on hand can also be a plus, since not many candidates have one started. And being able to give a teaching demonstration is always a must for a full-time position.
Textbook (and other) Readings:
Teaching Philosophy Statement: https://gradschool.cornell.edu/career-and-professional-development/pathways-to-success/prepare-for-your-career/take-action/teaching-philosophy-statement/
