Mireya Palencia

September 17, 2014

LBS 400
Dr. Abbott
Philosophy of Education
Purpose of Education
According to Gene Carter (2012), the purpose of education is to prepare the
youth to compete in a global environment. One can definitely agree with Carter, because
education should provide the youth awareness for their futures in a world that is rapidly
changing. Students should receive an education that will help them realize their own
unique potential. Children should grow up to become good citizens, and aspire self-
improvement. Without education, the world would not run accordingly! We need
educated professionals like doctors, teachers, and lawyers to help society on an everyday
basis. Ultimately, the purpose of education is to understand society and to find our own
place in it.

Learning Environment
Abraham Maslow once said, A positive and supportive climate for learning must
be established and maintained in the classroom. This principle is very important in
education, because when children feel safe and respected both emotionally and physically
they are able to focus better on learning. Creating a positive classroom where children
feel welcomed, safe, respected, and supported will enhance the childrens productivity in
the classroom. Making the classroom feel like home; by adding curtains, houseplants, and
furniture can really impact the way children learn. When the classroom has a positive
environment it gives the children a sense of belonging, which makes them want to go to
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school and learn. As a teacher, one should create classroom rules that are clear and
supportive, so that we give students boundaries and opportunities to practice self-
regulation and to make good choices. Also, by promoting positive peer relationships we
can create an environment where students support and are kind to one another; that way
they dont feel uncomfortable and unwilling to speak. For example, working in groups,
receiving feedback, and participating in classroom discussions can cause the students to
feel essential to the classroom; therefore increasing their interest in learning.

Commitment to Social Justice
The U.S. Department of Education (2010), states that their goal is to provide
high-quality early learning opportunities to all children in America so that they enter
kindergarten ready to succeed in school and in life. I believe that by making education
freely available to all children we are giving everyone an equal opportunity to succeed in
life. A teacher should take responsibility and commitment to help students learn without
judging their social and economic background. We should be aware that our country is
full of different cultures and ethnicities. Therefore, when teaching we should relate new
learning to the students lives and experiences. As educators we should provide the
parents of our students with information that can benefit their child, such as tutoring, aid
assistance, and even medical information. Teachers are not only in the classroom to
teach, but they are there to help, support, and care for their students life. Overall,
teaching children to appreciate one another for who they are should be an educators
priority and commitment to social justice in education.

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Curriculum
The State Board of Education (2013) believes that all students need a high-
quality mathematics program designed to prepare them to graduate from high school,
ready for college, a career, and civic life. Students do not only need a high-quality
mathematics program, but they need quality teachers and staff that can teach all subjects.
Over the past four years, I have noticed that certain schools hire teachers that do not
know how to be teachers and cant teach the subject. For example, Compton High School
had a math teacher that was proficient in math, but did not know how to teach the
students. This particular teacher was boring in his lectures, and never gave the students
any guided practice. Teachers should know their students level before they begin any
lesson, so that they can learn to accommodate those students that may run a bit behind.
The new Common Core State Standards (2010), were created to make students become
critical thinkers. Teachers should ask the students questions, help the students predict,
have discussions, and work in groups so that students can assist each other with any
subject. As teachers, we should always check for understanding, and we should make
learning enjoyable. Blending the fun with the curriculum enhances the students
performance. Some examples are: creating games, or adding art to a lesson. Teachers
should always use pictures, charts, and diagrams when teaching; to help visual learners
grasp and understand the subject that is being taught. English Language Learners (ELL)
should be presented with visuals and manipulates, such as postcards, photographs, and
video clips to enhance the students comprehension. ELL students need to practice
speaking, writing, reading, and listening in order to acquire the new language. Writing in
journals, singing a song, having class discussions, and group work can help ELL learners
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practice language acquisition. Lastly, teachers should always seek support from other
teachers that may have suggestions and resources that can help.

Teacher
Effective teachers should always be committed to their school and their students.
Teachers should be fun, creative, and passionate in the classroom. As teachers, we need
to care for our students, understand their differences, and support their decisions.
Personally, I plan to always have a smile on my face when working, create fun and
creative lesson plans, and speak passionately about the importance of school. Teachers
should attend workshops that will help us develop more teaching skills, and we should
engage in the community of our students to create a friendly view of the neighborhood.
Teachers should always continue to maintain professionalism in all areas. The classroom
should always be organized and clean. The teachers personal appearance is very
important, so we should always dress appropriate, engage with parents and guardians,
and learn to accept criticism. Teachers should inspire and improve learning for students,
and understand that teaching will not always be easy. Ultimately, teachers should enjoy a
challenge!






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References
Common core standards. (2010). California Department of Education, Retrieved from
http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/cc/index.asp

Early learning: America's middle class promise begins early. (2010, December). U.S.
Department of Education, Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/early-learning

Gene, C. (2012, Marchh 18). What's the purpose of school in the 21st century?. Good
Magazine, Retrieved from http://magazine.good.is/articles/what-s-the-purpose-of-
school-in-the-21st-century

Maslow, A. (1954). Motivation and personality. New York: Harper.

Mathematics framework chapters. (2013, November 06). California Department of
Education, Retrieved from http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/ma/cf/draft2mathfwchapters.asp