My Teaching Philosophy

Education is something that I am personally passionate about and I see it as a ‘calling’ as well as a viable career. Science is my other major passion and I would like to pass that passion on to my students. The beauty of science is that it is constantly happening all around us. I would like to first make the students aware of the intricacies of the natural world and then help them understand the processes behind them. I plan to accomplish this by using lessons that transcend the walls of the classroom and extend into the outdoors, their homes, and throughout their lives. Science is not a two dimensional subject-- effectively taught through bookwork and note taking alone. It is best understood when pulled into the third dimension through model building and observing natural processes; and into the fourth dimension by conducting experiments and analyzing data.

But biology, chemistry, and physics are not the only lessons taught in the classroom. Of equal importance are the civic and personal values that are gained. Respect is the name of the game in the classroom and it must be reciprocated between the teacher and students, as well as among the students themselves. This is played out in the classroom in small group activities and class-wide discussions. Self-respect is also integral to adolescent development, as well as a respect for the world around them. It is important for teenagers to develop a sense of personal accomplishment and a connection their environment; and the sciences are a perfect platform for that. An important aspect of conducting science experiments is the teamwork involved. It requires effective communication between lab partners and a delegation of duties. Successful experiments also require diligence in following directions, time management, and attention to detail, all important traits on our society.

Personally, it is important to me to work with adolescents, as they are the future of our society and have immense power to change or reinforce current trends. It is also an integral age when it comes to social mobility and career choice. I feel obligated as my role as a science teacher to educate and inspire future scientists. It is the students in high school now that will be working on cures to currently incurable diseases, researching ecosystems that may hold the key to sustainability, and expanding the boundaries of our scientific knowledge.