Does Your Philosophy of Education Statement Reflect Who You Are?

If you are seeking new job opportunities in the teaching profession, having a clear, concise, and effective Philosophy of Education statement, often referred to as a Teaching Philosophy, is critical. You may need one to obtain your first teaching position, a new position, tenure, or a promotion. Face it, at some point in your professional career you will need to articulate your personal Philosophy of Education, so start now and update your statement each year. This reflective exercise will allow you to see your growth within the profession, and will result in renewed dedication to the field of education.

More and more teaching candidates are using this reflective piece to set themselves apart from the competition. So why has the use of a Philosophy of Education statement increased?

The use of a portfolio in the job search process has become more common, and the statement is the introduction to the portfolio.
The job market is extremely competitive, and candidates need something to set themselves apart from the competition.
Writing your statement provides an opportunity for personal growth and satisfaction, and can revitalize your dedication to the profession.
More teacher awards are being given out, and they often require a Philosophy of Education statement.

A Philosophy of Education statement is generally one to one and a half pages, double-spaced, and illustrates an educator's beliefs about education, learning, and working with students. The statement covers numerous different issues, and therefore must be very concise, because you don't want to ramble on for more than two pages. The writing of the statement can vary, but most use a straightforward, narrative essay approach. More creative educators may use a poem format. Others may pose questions and then their responses.

The statement may articulate the teacher's personal feelings about a variety of issues, such as:

Why you decided to enter the teaching profession.
How you define teaching.
What style of teaching you use and why you feel it is effective.
How you wish to be remembered by your students.
Why you believe teaching is a valuable career.
What you do to help your students learn and develop as individuals.
Someone who affected your life and your work as a teacher, such as a mentor, a theorist, a researcher, or an author.
How you feel that learning occurs.
What obstacles students face and how you can help them to overcome these difficulties.
How your personal characteristics and approach to teaching impact on the learning and development of your students.

The writing of the statement must be reflective, personal, and exceptionally clear. You will be judged on grammar, spelling, and sentence structure, as well as on your thoughts about teaching. It is critical to have a well-organized, thoughtful, and error-free document, which gives a vivid picture of you as an educator. Using examples or metaphors may help when you are crafting your statement. Write the paper with the reader in mind: in other words, use terminology that the reader will understand, and discuss issues that the reader will want to know about. Think carefully about what the reader will want to discover about you, such as a sample lesson or class activity that demonstrates your teaching style. Then develop the answers to those questions. Understand that if you have a few different audiences, you may need to tailor your statement to the audience; each statement should focus on the specific institute or position. Realize also that your statement will change over time to correspond to your developing beliefs, values, views, and approach to teaching.

The creation of the statement helps educators grow professionally; it helps define classroom goals, increases emotional investment in teaching, and helps to enhance awareness. It is a highly thought-provoking exercise, and you must be able to clearly articulate your goals and vision, as well as your road map to successfully reaching them.

Many educators cringe at the thought of writing their Philosophy of Education. They procrastinate, or worry about their capacity to express themselves, or wonder if they really need to produce a Philosophy of Education statement.

If you :

Don't have a clue where to begin.
Don't have the time to organize your thoughts in a clear, concise, grammatically correct way.
Don't know if what you have developed is suitable or adequate.
Don't have the time...

If you need help preparing your Philosophy of Education, don't hesitate to contact A+ Resumes for Teachers. We can help you every step of the way.

You can review samples of our work by clicking here.

Success Stories

"Hi Candace,

I just had an hour interview coaching with you last Friday morning. I just wanted to write and let you know the interview went very well. She also loved my resume that I received from you. I am now taking the next step in the interview processes where I will interview with the individual schools and their principals. I plan on purchasing another one of your interview packages for these up coming interviews because it was so beneficial. Thank you again for all your help and I'm sure you'll be hearing from me again very soon. "

R. B.

"I know it's been a while. I've been really busy. I finished my visual arts course last week and also started getting calls for interviews last week too. Because of the Board/Union negotiations, the principals were only allowed to start making calls last Wednesday., so I got calls for 3 interviews on Wednesday., went for the first one on Thursday afternoon, 2 more on Friday; had 4 booked for XXX but accepted a job offer after the first one on Monday and cancelled the other 3.

So, basically, I got a job with the XXXXX.. It was the school at the top of my list after the interview. Intermediate school, grades 7-8, French, not too far from home. I was a bit overwhelmed by the whole process but, let me tell you, after the first 2 interviews you don't really care as much anymore (still presenting yourself very professionally, of course). I am very happy with my choice so far.

I want to thank you for all your help and support; and will definitely be in touch with you throughout other important steps of my teaching career. Thanks again and have a great summer."

A. M.

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