Teaching Philosophy
Old Dominion University
Taylor Hunter
Introduction
All children are unique and must have an educational environment that helps them grow
not only educationally, but also socially and mentally. As special education teachers, we can
learn and grow as educators by listening carefully and by paying close attention to the way our
students solve problems. My role is to guide every child by helping them develop and learn the
skills that will benefit them as future adults one day. I will develop a unique learning style for
every child I work with, regardless of their disability, to help bridge the gap and allow them to
become avid competitors in education, as well as, any field they wish to participate in as adults.
Communication
My goal is to encourage and help every student strengthen their personal and educational
ability, because believing in each child's abilities will help them become self-advocates for their
own needs when others may not realize assistance is needed. As a special education teacher, I
support my colleagues, regardless of whether or not I have a student in their class, because this is
essential to every student and educator's development. I am an educator not for myself but for the
success and growth of every student who I meet, regardless of whether or not they are on my
caseload. I want to ensure every other teacher has the resources they need to help their students
with disabilities. Creating an environment that encourages communication for students and
colleagues to express their ideas and needs is critical to the success of everyone.
Understanding and listening are two essential elements that I will put above all else when
talking to my students. Their mental health and emotional well-being are my priority. I want to
ensure that they know they are safe and cared for every time they walk into my classroom or see
me in the hallway. To address all diverse learners, I will continue my education throughout my
career, whether it is continuing my education to obtain a graduate degree, personal development
courses, and or just simply seeking the advice of my colleagues when I know I need help.
Showing my students that I do not know everything and that I am willing to ask for help, when I
need it, will teach my students strength and courage and demonstrate self-advocacy skills that
they must learn.
Relationships
"The Strength of our student relationships makes the difference in translation our passion
for teaching into their passion for learning," said Beth Marrow. Building relationships with both
my students and parents will build trust and security in my students. Understanding my student's
background and family situations will be a key to their success in their academics. If my students
and parents know that they are my top priority, and that I care, they will feel comfortable
entrusting their child's education to me. I will support the student and parents by addressing any
concerns they have when it comes to academics or homelife. Building these critical relationships
will help me as the teacher understand what is going on with my students every day. To help
them feel confident and comfortable, I will encourage them to discuss any concerns they may
have, regardless if they are school-related or not. I will make sure that my students know they
have support and that I will fight for them regardless of the obstacles we may face when trying to
solve or overcome an issue.
Assessment and Environment
Building an inclusive classroom where students know they should try their hardest, but
that it is okay to fail, will be one of the main foundations of my classroom. My students will
understand that learning is not easy and that oftentimes they must find techniques that work for
them. Staying on top of the newest technology and research is critical when teaching students
with disabilities, because, they all can learn the content, but it needs to be differentiated for each
student. Assessment of both the formative and summative will be used often in my classroom to
assess student knowledge. The assessments might include an exit ticket, verbal cues, virtual
databases, and paper and pen tests. All these assessments will be used so that I can gauge how
my students are progressing, as well as, evaluate myself as their teacher. I will use evidence-
based practices when teaching my students, giving them an assessment, and when giving them
tools to further their educational needs.
Conclusion
It is my goal as an educator to make sure that all my special education students can
succeed in the next grade, or eventually have the option of being released from special education
services or placed on monitor consult before they graduate high school. The overall success of
my students, even when I may not be their teacher, is my priority. As long as I am around
students with disabilities they will not be forgotten, and I will advocate for them by any means
possible to ensure that they are successful in and out of school.
