I certainly like that this question is asked of prospective teachers. It requires that a person decides quickly what is most important to him or her when it comes to making the greatest impact on students in a meaningful way. How will you address all types of learners? How will you ensure that every student learns to the best of his or her capabilities? How will you help struggling students achieve their goals and how will you challenge those that are more advanced than your average learners? All of these questions should be considered in developing a teaching philosophy.
You can see that narrowing this down into just a few sentences for an interview can be difficult, as a more direct and concise response would be most effective. Regurgitating all the knowledge you have on teaching methodologies may be tempting. However, I feel if I were an interviewer, a convoluted and lengthy response may lead me to believe that this person knows a great deal about teaching, but I'd wonder, where is his or her passion?
In Master's programs, such as the one I am currently in at SMU, we are taught to be exceptional teachers and leaders in our field. We are taught everything we need to know about teaching and are given ample opportunity to apply what we have learned in real classrooms. Without a doubt in my mind, every teacher SMU produces, is among the best. Still, there is only so much one can learn in school. School provides the resources we need to become experts in our field, but it is up to us to take time to self reflect and discover what we care most about. Many believe teaching is a calling, it is not something learned. Others believe the opposite. Regardless of which side you are on, it is important to realize what drives and inspires you most. Finding that core passion will make you happiest and your work will be a direct reflection of how much you care. Buggin' out!
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