Tom Downey
Educator Portfolio
Teaching Philosophy
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” As an educator, a student, and a lifelong learner, I am choosing to work towards my version of the “work worth doing.” For me, this means to play my part in the fight for educational equity. My hope is to inspire students to find their own “work worth doing” and to empower them with the education they need to pursue the work.
I am driven by the belief that equity efforts - for all people of different races, ethnicities, and abilities - should not be seen as surprising or gracious. It should be expected. It should be part of our core mission as a society. As a teacher, I’ve learned many ways this principle can be implemented in the classroom, and I am constantly seeking to learn new ways to promote equity. For my students, their content goals may be individualized, but our overarching goal remains collective: to make the most of our time together as we learn what we need to know. As we work towards our overarching goal, we will learn the social and emotional skills that are needed to include our peers and support each other through the learning process.
The reason for my persistent drive towards equity stems from my family background. I am the younger brother of two twin brothers with autism. Growing up, I watched as my brothers' educators worked incredibly hard to make sure they received a quality education. Teachers, aides, and administrators made sure that my brothers received the individualized education they deserved. I always strive to be this kind of teacher for my students that find themselves unsuccessful in the conventional classroom. This principle doesn’t just apply to my students with Individualized Education Plans. Some students may be anxious about specific content; others may feel bored at school and choose to show it through challenging behaviors. Whatever the case may be, I am determined to find the engagement strategy that will motivate students to work toward success and bring them the support needed to get there.
In addition to my focus on equity, I also believe it is essential for students to be taught self advocacy. I've learned that the best teachers blend their pedagogy with anthropology, sociology, political science, and other disciplines to use education to empower a community. I firmly believe in the importance of blending elementary education with the issues facing students’ communities, so that kids can use their voices to change the world for the better. Culturally responsive teaching, brain-targeted teaching, and student-led instruction are just three ways in which this philosophy can live in the classroom. You can learn more about the ways in which I infuse these three teaching aspects in my classroom in the Teacher Growth and Student Growth sections of this website.
In addition to Theodore Roosevelt’s famous words, I have found another quote that wraps up my teaching philosophy. One of my favorite shirts is pictured in this photo (right). Even though the many struggles of the world can bring us down, it is important to “Believe there is good in the world.” However, in order for this to happen, we must remember to “Be the good in the world” for our students and peers that may be struggling. Through a deeper development of self advocacy and a norm of equity efforts across lines of difference, my hope is for students to be enlightened and empowered with the skills they need to "Be the good in the world" for the rest of their lives.
About My Clasroom
Teacher Growth