Dr. Rombach's Courses

Dr. Kimberly Rombach's Courses
State University of New York College at Cortland
Childhood/Early Childhood

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EDU 510 Inquiry into Teaching, Technology and Research
	Philosophy of Teaching Statement

Assignment description and corresponding grading rubric:

Philosophy of Teaching Statement Assignment

Throughout this course, you are to inquire into your emerging understandings of teaching and learning and develop a philosophy of teaching statement. You are to write a brief reflective essay (no more than one page in length) on your beliefs about how students learn, how effective teaching occurs, and perspectives that you have that would guide your actions.

You will include your philosophy of teaching statement in your electronic portfolio.

Your philosophy of teaching statement is an evolving document. While you will work to finalize your statement throughout this course, it will be something that you will need to revisit and revise throughout your time as a pre-service teacher and periodically throughout your teaching career.

A philosophy of teaching statement is a personal-belief essay, although there are similar components that are often found throughout many teachers' statements.

Components may include any of the following:
Beliefs about how learning occurs
Beliefs about how teaching best facilitates student achievement
Understandings regarding student evaluation and assessment
Specific educational philosophies/theories that are valued
Educational goals for your students
Professional goals for yourself

This statement will be the first entry that many people viewing your portfolio will read so it is very important that you are thoughtful, concise and particular about your word choice.

Philosophy of Teaching Statement Grading Rubric

Your philosophy of teaching statement is an evolving document that you will revise as you progress through the MST program. Throughout your time as a graduate student, you will read about and reflect on learning and teaching and as you gain more experience interacting with students, your ideas regarding these topics will undoubtedly shift and change as you emerge as an educator.

Although a philosophy of teaching statement is a personal expression of your own ideas about teaching, learning and schooling, it is important that your statement is thorough in content. Therefore, as you complete your first semester as an emerging educator, it is important that you begin to (1) develop your own beliefs about how students learn best and (2) identify effective teaching practices. Please be sure to include both of those topics in your philosophy statement.

The following chart will serve as a rubric to grade your philosophy of teaching statement:

		Target	Acceptable	Unacceptable
Content	Emerging beliefs about how students learn best.	Your emerging beliefs about how students learn best are noticeably documented with supporting details and connected to one or two examples. (3 points)	Your emerging beliefs about how students learn best are documented with supporting details. (2 points)	Your emerging beliefs about how students learn best are documented. (1 point)
Content	Emerging understanding of effective teaching practices.	Your emerging beliefs about effective teaching practices are noticeably documented with supporting details and connected to one or two examples. (3 points)	Your emerging beliefs about effective teaching practices are documented with supporting details. (2 points)	Your emerging beliefs about effective teaching practices are documented. (1 point)
Mechanics	Cogent, concise description	Your philosophy statement is cogent and concise, with particular care given to word use. (2 points)	Your statement is concise. (1 point)	Your philosophy statement includes repetitive language. (0 point)
Mechanics	Grammar and spelling	Your philosophy statement is free from grammar and spelling errors. (2 points)	Your philosophy statement includes one spelling error. (1 point)	Your philosophy statement includes grammar and spelling errors that are distracting to the reader. (0 point)