Grand Valley State University
College of Education
ED441/442 Curriculum for CI/EI
E-portfolio

	My philosophy of teaching & learning
Home Philosophy Resume Standards 1 - 3 Standards 4-6 Standards 7 - 10	Teaching, to me, is many things. It is both and art and a science. It is also a labor of love. In order to teach well, a person must be well versed in his or her chosen specialty. He or she must also be familiar with effective practices that have been proven using research. At the same time, how a teacher teaches is very personal. No two teachers will ever teach exactly the same and this is what makes teaching an art form. It is up to the teacher to develop a style that is both effective and personal. Above all, teaching to me is a labor of love. To be a truly great teacher, a person must have a love of children, the community, and of him or herself. A teacher should care about his or her students and seek to teach them to the best of his or her ability. When a teacher loves the world around him or herself, it will show in his or her teaching and enhance it immensely. Teachers need to remember that how well they teach can have a positive or negative impact on the lives of their students for years to come. Learning is important in that it is the main way a person improves him or herself. By learning about the world around them, students begin to make connections to themselves and discover who they are. They learn about their likes and dislikes, how they relate to other people, and how they fit in with the world around them. Learning also imparts practical skills that the students can use later in life. Learning is a major key for achieving success and happiness later in life. Without the ability to learn, the world would be a dull place in which people would be miserable. “It is important to remember that a small group of people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead