Skip to content
Professionalization

Writing a Teaching Statement

By Kristi Rudenga and Misbah Hyder


What is a teaching statement?

A teaching statement, or statement of teaching philosophy (they’re the same thing!), is a brief (1-2 pages) essay in which you describe your approach to the classroom: how do you approach material or skills that your students should learn, and how do you approach your students? Contrary to what the phrase “statement of teaching philosophy” might imply, this statement must be grounded in examples. The best teaching statements are ones where the committee can visualize you in one of their own classrooms, teaching their students.

A strong teaching statement:

  • Is evidence-based – use specific examples
  • Presents the writer as a teacher and colleague (don’t talk about yourself as a student!)
  • Highlights your strengths and strategies
  • Shows off your teaching toolkit – for example:
    • Use of active learning
    • Facilitating discussions
    • Fostering community and belonging
    • Transparency in assessment
    • Flexibility to your students’ needs


Why write a teaching statement?

Increasingly, academic jobs – even R1s – are requiring teaching statements and teaching portfolios as part of the materials. Even research-focused positions require some level of teaching, and committees want to know if you are thinking about who their students are and how you communicate the complex concepts and skills that are required for students to learn within your discipline.

This is your chance to paint a picture of yourself as a teacher – allow the committee to see who you are in the classroom:

  • Support and illustrate claims made in your cover letter about your teaching
  • Demonstrate depth and breadth as a teacher
  • Describe how you approach the classroom and your students

This is also a great opportunity for self reflection: 

  • How does your teaching relate to your broader academic/disciplinary goals?
  • How do you implement principles of inclusion within your classroom?

How to write a teaching statement:


Structure of a Teaching Statement

While teaching statements don’t have to follow a strict formula, it can help to have a sense of what a typical one might look like:

Introduction

  • Grab attention, if possible
  • Introduce your teaching goals and values
  • Lay out the major points you’ll write about in the body  

Body

  • Strategies and examples!
  • Goal → challenge → action → result

Conclusion

  • Look ahead – reinforce teaching goals/values for the future
  • In some disciplines, it’s customary to list classes you’d be interested in teaching in this section.


The Writing Process

  • Can be an inductive or deductive process: 
    • Start with examples to uncover overall principles OR identify guiding pedagogy and select examples that match
  • The voice and message should be your own
  • Start early – plan for lots of rewrites
    • You’d be surprised how long writing a teaching statement might take; it’s a unique reflection exercise.
  • Let others read your statement – get feedback!
    • We provide feedback at the Kaneb Center – feel free to reach out!


SHOW more than you Tell!

See this handout to see examples of how you can illustrate rather than just state how you reach your students, are committed to inclusivity, and engage in hands-on learning.

  • Be vivid and personal
    • When describing your teaching, be descriptive. You want to have your reader almost *picture* your facilitation techniques.
    • Don’t be afraid of showing more of yourself & your personality in this statement (relative to your other job market materials).
  • Give the reader something memorable that they can clearly visualize – Do you have anecdotes that include motion? Tactile objects? Clear images?
  • Use examples wisely to show your versatility and range of experiences
  • If it flows naturally, include the books or scholarly sources that have influenced your pedagogy. This is not a requirement, but can show commitment to the craft.


Start with these Writing Exercises:

First, reflect on a teaching moment:

Think about a particularly memorable / successful teaching moment you’ve had. Write a paragraph or outline describing what you did and how it affected students

  • How did you set it up?
  • What did you do?
  • What were students doing?
  • What was the outcome?

If you have not taught yet, describe how you’re envisioning the facilitation of a particular activity.

Second, reflect on your broader teaching approach/philosophy:

What things do you most want to communicate about yourself as a teacher? Write a paragraph or outline describing a broader way to frame your statement / teaching philosophy:

  • What are your teaching goals and what do you do to achieve them?
  • How do your research and disciplinary context influence your teaching?
  • What is your approach to evaluating and assessing students?
  • What is your biggest strength as a teacher?


General Tips

  • Ground your statement and portfolio in your subfield, and if possible, the needs of the position
  • Can also include ideas of what classes you teach
    • Recommend: if deciding between examples, choose ones that more closely relate to the position’s needs
  • Consider your use of white space, subheadings, other visual elements
  • Get lots of feedback!!!

Please don’t

Instead

Preach, e.g. “Good teachers should…”

Use clear, direct “I” and “My” statements

Present yourself as a student

Present yourself as a teacher and potential colleague

Base your success as a teacher on hours per student

Describe strategies that will translate to higher teaching loads/new environments

Frame statements negatively

Focus on positive aspects of your own teaching

 

Resources