As an educator I have seen my teaching philosophy inherently take on two different areas of emphasis. The first is part of a personal goal for education in general and social studies specifically. The second is an understanding of personal responsibility as a teacher and mentor to today’s youth. As such, each area can be highlighted and summarized in the following.

Eliminate routine knowledge: Reduce repetitive knowledge and trivial facts by replacing them with knowledge that can be applied to the students’ lives.
Draw connections: Make connections from content to students’ everyday lives in order to create a greater understanding and appreciation of the subject  
       matter.
Utilize multiple perspectives: Use various resources to incorporate multiple viewpoints and ideas for a well-rounded learning experience.
Critical thinking: Promote the use of critical thinking skills and methods through content that can be applied and connected to the students’ personal  
       worlds.
Advocate for students: Work to put students in a position to be successful through the promotion and use of both the academic and social resources that  
       the school provides.
Technology: Use technology in a way that facilitates student access to information, appeases multiple intelligences and fits with my personal pedagogy.
Objectivity: To be responsible and guide a classroom in an objective and open-minded manner and avoid an atmosphere that is void of comfort and  
           curiosity.
Reflection: To continually reflect on one’s strengths and weaknesses and adapt in order to become the best teacher I can possibly be.

These ideas encompass the two areas that make-up my personal teaching philosophy and my expectations as a Social Studies teacher. They are the standards which drive  my day-to-day instruction as an educator.