Gretchen A. Heegeman
This website is a portfolio of my work since its creation in 2014 for my Accelerated English 9 course, under the direction of Julie Messingschlager at Mancelona High School.
Teaching Philosophy
A student’s education is about the student, not the teacher. It is the teacher’s job to show the student the way and to bring light onto a new skill that can be applicable in life. It is the teacher’s job to adjust their teaching to fit the needs of the student, rather than to teach based on their own strengths. We are given the tools, knowledge, and rules to be successful our way, but as educators we need to use the tools given to us to help the students be successful their way.
Throughout my years as a student, I have always been one to obey the teacher and do as they say. I never considered the teacher at fault until I started taking courses in college. An example of this was when a professor I had only taught to a certain demographic of students; to those who had intuition and could understand by hearing. I was not one of those students. I struggled in that class and it made me realize that as an educator I will need to teach to all students, not just the ones that have the same learning styles as I do.
This is why I believe it is important to have a personal relationship with my students. It is my job to find out what I can do to help them, and I will not find out anything if I do not ask. To know the student is to know how to help them learn. As a teacher I want to talk with my students, find out what they want to say and how they want to learn. In the end teaching is all about the student. All I want as an educator is to see my students grow and succeed, and that cannot happen if I do not know who my students are. They are the future, after all.
Throughout my years as a student, I have always been one to obey the teacher and do as they say. I never considered the teacher at fault until I started taking courses in college. An example of this was when a professor I had only taught to a certain demographic of students; to those who had intuition and could understand by hearing. I was not one of those students. I struggled in that class and it made me realize that as an educator I will need to teach to all students, not just the ones that have the same learning styles as I do.
This is why I believe it is important to have a personal relationship with my students. It is my job to find out what I can do to help them, and I will not find out anything if I do not ask. To know the student is to know how to help them learn. As a teacher I want to talk with my students, find out what they want to say and how they want to learn. In the end teaching is all about the student. All I want as an educator is to see my students grow and succeed, and that cannot happen if I do not know who my students are. They are the future, after all.