Philosophy
My philosophy of education is and always will be a work in progress. I don’t think I will ever stop learning and that is what makes my philosophy of teaching and education change. Currently there are some things in my philosophy that I feel very strongly about. The first is the reason I want to be a teacher…to make a difference. I believe that if I can make even a small difference in one child each day at school, that I will be a successful teacher. I feel that a simple pat on the back, or compliment can help a student who is having a bad day turn their day into a good day.
I also believe that each individual is different. Keeping this in mind I want to encourage every student to be proud of who they are and be proud of who their classmates are as well. If everyone can see that just because each person is unique that it does not mean they are different…rather equal because we are all different. With each child being different, I strongly believe in adapting the classroom and lessons to meet the needs of my students. I do not want to hinder a child’s learning process simply because it is extra work for me to adapt for them. That is not how I see it. I see it as a way to enhance the learning process of each student so they can exceed their own expectations of themselves.
I want my students to feel that what they are learning is relevant to their life as much as possible. I want to relate the subject matter to their lives so they can see that it is relevant and where it may be used in life. Along with this, I want my students to experience their learning rather than hear it. Where ever possible, I would like to do hands on activities and different learning activities that will have the students out of their desks learning about something. I love the Chinese Proverb “I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand” because I know from my own learning experiences that when I get to do something, I understand the process better.
Finally, I want each student to take responsibility for their own education and outcomes in life. I want my students to become responsible citizens who do not make excuses, rather take ownership for their mistakes or wrong doings. I want my students to understand that if they put no effort into work, that they will be graded poorly for the lack of effort and accept that. Taking ownership for their education will lead to them taking ownership in their everyday lives. If someone is telling that student that they are going to do nothing with their life, I don’t want them to believe them. I want my students to realize that it doesn’t matter what others think and they can achieve anything if they put their minds to it. Success is something we work for, it is not simply handed to us.
My philosophy is always changing and I know it will change once I am finished my internship. I hope you will look back and see the changes I have made. I am excited to see how my thoughts may change and look forward to developing my philosophy in the future!
