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Bianca DAmico

Education 107
9/15/2011
Philosophy of Teaching
As a future teacher, I believe that all students learn in different ways. Some students learn
through lecture and notes while other students learn through visuals and hands-on activities. I
think that it is very important as a teacher to accommodate a students needs and teach in a way
that is best for the students to understand and retain the knowledge being learned, in a way that
they are most comfortable with. Another important factor in which I believe that students learn
best with is learning with groups. I think that students learning and working together is very
important. However, I do think in some situations it is important as well as necessary for students
to work independently; but when students work together in groups I think that learning becomes
more of an advantage, because it give the students the chance to connect and bounce ideas and
techniques off of one another. For example, when students work in groups, they are able to build
a collaborative learning classroom as well as learn from one another. One goal that I have for
myself as a teacher is to build a collaborative classroom and I think a start to building this would
have students work in groups as well as establish a comfortable and community oriented
environment.
The psychologist, Vygotsky created a theory called social constructivism. I agree with this
theory on many certain aspects, on how a classroom should be as well as how a teacher should
teach in the classroom. For example, Vygotsky believes that students learn best within a social
environment rather than an individual environment. Another factor I believe in which students
learn best in is with the Zone of Proximal Development. Zone of Proximal Development is what
a student can accomplish alone versus what a student can accomplish with the assistance of an
adult. As a teacher, I think that it is important to know how to help a student with a task versus
having the student try doing the task on their own. One of the last aspects of Vygotskys theory I
agree with is the role teachers play in the classroom. Vyogtsky believes that a teacher should be
a facilitator and a guide rather than a director. I agree with this because I think there will be more
success in the classroom, if the teacher plays the role as a guide. The teacher playing a guide also
will make the students feel more comfortable and open about things if a teacher establishes a
mentor relationship with his or her students. The students will be more open to ask questions if
they do not understand something as well as want to participate in a class discussion if the
teacher establishes a guide relationship and makes the classroom a community friendly place.
As a teacher, I believe that Vygotskys social constructivism will affect my teaching in my
classroom significantly. For example, referring back to how I think students learn best in a
social environment, I think I will have students work independently on a certain subject but then
have the students get into groups and give each other feedback on the task as well as answer each
others questions. At times, I think that students can learn better from their peers rather than a
teacher. Going along with working in groups, I also think the Zone of Proximal Development
will play a big role in my classroom as well. For example, when working on a subject such as
math, I would want to do practice problems with the students and teach them how to do the task
and assist them with questions and concerns they may have. However, after doing a couple of

examples, I would try to have the students practice problems independently to see how well the
students comprehended the material that was taught. Depending on how well the students do on
the task; that is when I come into play as the teacher and I either help the students with more
problems or take a different perspective of teaching the material, in order for the students to
understand or move on if all the students understand the material well enough. Finally, the last
component that will play a key role in my classroom will be my role as a teacher. From the
beginning of the year, I want my students to know that I am their teacher and they need to
respect me and I will respect them; however I am also there not only to be teacher but to be a
mentor and a guide for my students. I want my students to not be embarrassed or scared to ask
questions. I think when teachers establish this type of classroom setting the students are more
likely to succeed because they will not be scared or intimidated to speak up if they do not
understand something. Establishing this type of relationship in the classroom as well as
environment in the classroom is very important to me as a teacher and I think this will lead to
success for myself as well as my students.

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