I have always held the strong belief that education should be obtainable for everyone and teaching and learning should be used to empower and enrich society for the better. Therefore, I intend to embrace differences and support social and ecological justice in my classrooms by cultivating relationships and maintaining respect for all my students. I intend to adopt philosophies that are supportive of all students such as a neuro diverse and anti-racist pedagogy (Lathan, 2020; Luzius-Vanin & Butler, 2019). Furthermore, I will move away from gender divided norms, encourage students to share their cultures, learn proper pronunciation of names and respect pronouns, and follow the adaptive dimensions to allow for learning inclusiveness (Airton, 2019; Christensen, 2020; Deych, 2020; The Adaptive Dimension, 2017; Vaught, 2020). I will endlessly advocate for my students to be taught in a fair and safe environment (Stratton, 2019). I also will adopt statements such as “I believe you”, thereby helping all my students feel equally heard (Gunderson, 2020). In addition, and of the utmost importance, is to acknowledge my presence on Treaty Four land as a white settler educator. As a future educator I intend to find ways to decolonize amidst the classroom, by questioning and challenging colonized norms that have continued to impact education (Grafton & Melancon, 2020). Though I still have work to do in fully transforming my beliefs to actions; I am committed to professional development in ongoing learning and growth for this to transpire. I will recognize and develop in my strengths and learn how I may effectively carry out my developing philosophies in an individualized and authentic way (Goldberg, 2019). Education is a powerful tool that I believe can enhance the world for the better when it is supportive and inclusive to all, and I will dedicate my career in ensuring this is the reality for all my students. As in the end my teaching philosophy is reflective of gardening, as we have an array of unique plants all with the capability to grow if we nurture each of them.

Visual Representation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EJkButtY3tHcoB2cy5Pe9-0YGOaMdtQO/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104445066099242859618&rtpof=true&sd=true