Writing Your Philosophy of Teaching

A philosophy of teaching is a collection of a teacher's thoughts about teaching, learning and education in general. These philosophies are often written as part of a teaching degree and then revised throughout a teacher's career. I wrote the first draft of my teaching philosophy during a practicum class, and eventually finished it following my teaching internship. Since then, I've gone through a few more drafts and will continue to edit the document as long as I continue to teach. Parts of my philosophy have remained the same while others have been completely rewritten or even deleted as my experience increases and my mind changes.

A good teaching philosophy is useful to the teacher as well as future employers who often ask for such a statement. A well-written teaching philosophy helps you reflect on your learning experience and consider ways you want to apply your knowledge to the actual practice of teaching. Collecting your thoughts into a single document can also help you prepare for the types of questions frequently asked at a teaching job interview.

A typical philosophy of teaching statement is 1-2 typed pages in length. The philosophy should talk about what you believe about teaching and why, and then would cover how you might put your philosophy into practice. Writing down this information can be a daunting task. I can remember my advisor giving us the assignment of the first draft of a teaching philosophy, and the resulting hours spent staring at a blank computer screen or a blank sheet of paper.

Reading sample teaching philosophies was what helped me stop staring and start writing. A quick internet search should bring up several examples of teaching philosophies. Your department might also have some statements on file from former students.