As I sit here today writing this philosophy statement, I think back to “why” and “how” I got here in the first place. I have gone from working in the medical field to becoming a teacher/librarian. Struggling through a Master’s in Marriage and Family therapy I discovered that I did not want to carry the burdens of others into my life but what I wanted to do was touch the lives of others through books or resources. I was living in Paris, and I discovered that I lived half a block away from the American Library in Paris. It was a place I could go to volunteer and feel like I was helping expats like myself build community. It became my haven in a foreign country. It was also here that I met a fellow librarian who told me; “You’re never too old to grab your dream job.” While I know that a lot of us have a love of books it is really about digging deeper into myself and asking “Why do you want to teach?”
I want to teach because I want to enrich the lives of the students. I want to put into their hands' such valuable experiences and lessons that they don’t need to travel the world to learn or experience new things. With the political climate of our world, I want to be that someone who doesn’t judge but says let’s see what their world is all about. Children need to recognize that their life experiences and opinions are just as meaningful as their educational experiences. In the classroom, we can bring them together and enrich each other by story-telling and collaboration. I believe I should be that example of empathy. I should bring a curious mind to the classroom to learn from my students just as I want them to learn from me.
I believe that as a teaching librarian, I can bring a different type of knowledge to the students. I can share with my students how to be digital citizens, how to do research, use their resources well and how to access new ones. Unlike subject matter teachers I can admit when I am not sure of an answer and can apply the process of critical inquiry to learn something new or to incorporate new knowledge into something we already know. I try to cultivate this into the students as well. I want my classroom to be a place where students can ask questions, and there is always a path to an answer.
I don’t want a classroom of “Shh” and “Quiet” I want the noise of collaboration and information exchange. I want to build lessons that use small group activities and classroom discussions and personal reflection. I believe this allows the students to attach a stronger meaning to their knowledge. I also recognize when sometimes lesson plans for the day can be thrown out, and the students may present to me a new challenge that we tackle and learn from. All of this is the base for my students to learn and grow.
I want to teach because I want to enrich the lives of the students. I want to put into their hands' such valuable experiences and lessons that they don’t need to travel the world to learn or experience new things. With the political climate of our world, I want to be that someone who doesn’t judge but says let’s see what their world is all about. Children need to recognize that their life experiences and opinions are just as meaningful as their educational experiences. In the classroom, we can bring them together and enrich each other by story-telling and collaboration. I believe I should be that example of empathy. I should bring a curious mind to the classroom to learn from my students just as I want them to learn from me.
I believe that as a teaching librarian, I can bring a different type of knowledge to the students. I can share with my students how to be digital citizens, how to do research, use their resources well and how to access new ones. Unlike subject matter teachers I can admit when I am not sure of an answer and can apply the process of critical inquiry to learn something new or to incorporate new knowledge into something we already know. I try to cultivate this into the students as well. I want my classroom to be a place where students can ask questions, and there is always a path to an answer.
I don’t want a classroom of “Shh” and “Quiet” I want the noise of collaboration and information exchange. I want to build lessons that use small group activities and classroom discussions and personal reflection. I believe this allows the students to attach a stronger meaning to their knowledge. I also recognize when sometimes lesson plans for the day can be thrown out, and the students may present to me a new challenge that we tackle and learn from. All of this is the base for my students to learn and grow.