Revised Teaching Philosophy

Rachel A. Mohr
Educational Psychology
Ivy Tech Community College- Evansville Campus
April 27, 2014














My Teaching Philosophy

By definition, education is the act or process of imparting or acquiring general
knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing
oneself or others intellectually for mature life (Education | Define Education at Dictionary.com,
n.d., p.1). I believe that my passion for becoming an educator is driven by what education is
defined as and also by my dedication for improving the lives of those around me. I have always
felt a great sense of accomplishment when I see that spark emerge in the eyes of a child as they
begin to succeed for the first time.
One of the first questions that our text, Teachers, Schools, and Society encourages us as,
Education students, to ask ourselves is, Does this speak to my heart (2013,p.3)? This text, even
with it being filled with school law and standards, fills my heart with joy and propels my
thoughts into the future; where a classroom filled with unique children awaits me.
I see myself as an educator like my Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Pace. Mrs. Pace to me is
what every parent envisions their childrens teachers to be. A woman that treated each student
with respect while wearing silly knee high socks, a disciplined leader that still used a sweet voice
and a teacher of excellence that embraced mistakes because she knew that sometimes the only
way for great improvements were through error. Mrs. Pace gave to all children what they not
only deserved, but also what they craved; an equal education that was filled with knowledge,
compassion, and tons of laughter all while knowing that they were safe.
Although Mrs. Pace was instrumental in shaping my views of how a teacher should carry
him or herself, it was Mrs. Robinson that inspired me to be a dreamer. She was a teacher that



allowed our individuality to shine though in all that we did. She encouraged us to let books takes
us on wild adventures while wearing silly slippers like bear paws and ducks feet. She was a
tough second grade teacher, but she never gave up on any child. Through her dont stop until
you reach the top attitude she taught me to never stop trying. She continues to remind me that
dedication reaps great reward and that any dream is attainable.
Over the past thirteen years of my education I have encountered many great and even
some not so great teachers. And even though a teacher did not leave that lasting impression on
me they still played an intricate hand in shaping the teacher I will soon become. To all of my
teachers past; I am forever grateful, for they are the reason I sit here today writing my own
teaching philosophy.
So what philosophy did all those educators lead me believe in? My philosophy is one
that is built on a strong foundation of the basics, but through the means of a Progressivism
classroom. A classroom that is geared more towards cooperative or group learning than for the
individual learner. My students will be taught all of those essential basics through real life
applications. I believe that through our social interactions we can find meaning and answers that
we may have not have found otherwise.
Every child has been created with their own formula for greatness; a greatness that
can only be unlocked by a teacher that recognizes them for their individual uniqueness and is
equipped with the tools to help the child fine tune their specialty. I feel that using tools like
one teaching medium or teaching one subject at a time limits the childs ability to critical think
or use their own previous knowledge(Sadker & Zittleman, 2013, p.254). I want to encourage



my classrooms to always be active thinkers through thought provoking activities (Sadker &
Zittleman, 2013, p.256).
I also feel that teaching children to be activist or to be an active part within their
communities is a very important building block when grooming children to be intellectually
mature in this day and age(Education | Define Education at Dictionary.com, n.d., p.1). Children
need to understand that we all have a role in this world; we all leave a mark and we have the
power to choose if our mark will be one of integrity and humility or one of destruction and
hatred. Whether it be for a healthy planet, race or gender equality, or feeding the hungry;
children need to understand why it is important to leave this world a better place.
Most would say this is a Social Reconstructionist philosophy, but I just see it as
implementing the Five Minds for the Future that Dweck Gardner suggests that schools of the
twenty-first century should be developing their curriculums and schools around (Sadker &
Zittleman, 2013, p.29). His Five Minds are essentially five ways of knowing how to be
ethical, respectful, disciplined, how to synthesize, and how to be creative in a day and age where
were culturally diverse and have knowledge at our fingertips (Sadker & Zittleman, 2013, p.28-
29).
Robert Schaffer once said, We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled,
but as candles to be lit (Sadker & Zittleman, 2013, p.8). My goal as a teacher is to be just that. I
want to be the spark that lights the candles of our young so that they may be the light that shines
bright in our world one day.






References
Education | Define Education at Dictionary.com. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2013, from
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/education
Sadker, D. M., & Zittleman, K. R. (2013). Teachers, Schools, and Society (10th ed.). New York,
New York: McGraw-Hill.