Educational Philosophy
My role as a holistic educator is to allow every child the opportunity to grow and flourish, to excel,
succeed and achieve beyond even their expectations. This is what society expects of its schools,
and educators; to work toward energising and engaging our youth to ensure we develop inquisitive
lifelong learners. To achieve this teachers’ must create a supportive, caring environment where
every student feels empowered to be able to achieve their personalised goals, knowing they have
an advocate in me: the man who is the subject expert who is always available to help and support,
the mentor and guide who puts their welfare and development as a priority. I build relationships
with students to connect with them by developing an understanding of what makes them ‘tick’,
what makes them unique. This allows me to facilitate the development of well rounded
internationally minded, global citizens.
I like to simplify my philosophy into my Educational 10 Commandments:
Know your students - Without connection you’re likely to be just teaching content, not facilitating
inquiry and learning. Find out about them - hobbies, family, interests. What makes them tick and
advocate for them.
Praise - Use the power of praise to encourage and motivate students.
Student Centred - Where possible, co-construct units of work / inquiries, and assessment.
Establish feedback and goal setting meetings. The more student ownership, the better the learning
and development of adolescents. Seek and accept feedback from students. This is so important
for my own reflection.
Model, model and model - From final products or assessment to being courteous and respectful,
model what you expect, a caring global citizen. Be explicit with all aspects of the job, from
classroom expectations to homework requirements, be sure every student understands how to
succeed.
Self Reflect - Reflect on units of work, assessment, relationships with students and colleagues,
teaching practice, impacts on student learning and success…
Have an open mind to new teaching strategies and technology - Standardized testing has value to
inform my teaching. However, it is not the priority of the classroom. My classes are about creative
teaching and learning, developing skills, and students collaborating and reflecting.
Differentiate - Teach the student first, not the subject area. Think inclusive practices to allow every
student the opportunity to grow and achieve their personalized goals.
Nurture - When a child shows an interest in a topic, encourage. If a child has lost their way, be their
compass. Help raise our youth, not just teach the content. Care. Be an advocate for each student.
Stay young and take risks - In ten years, students will not remember that worksheet I wrote. But
they will remember the exciting activity I devised to deepen their understanding.
Enjoy - If I cannot enjoy time with these adolescents, what am I doing?