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Running head: PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

The Way to a Student

Mitchell P. Young

Dr. Egbert

Education 204: 10:00

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Running head: PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

How AIl Students Can Learn

Education is not simply spouting of words and soaking up the lessons. The goal of

education should be to teach students how to learn, and not necessarily what to learn. By the

following sections it will be shown how a child can best achieve this. Constant vigilance in this

endeavor to teaching will bring the greatest results.

It is essential that students understand the material being taught. In the classroom I will

help each child know that their learning is important to me. My teaching style is very much an

authoritative style. From Lev Vygotsky, we learn of the zone of proximal development, which is

the facilitating of childrens capacities to reach their full potential (pp 243). Each child learns

differently than other children do. It is imperative that time is spent with them to know how to

best teach them.

From Roberta M. Burns on John B. Watson the theorist of behaviorism says, only

observable behavior (not what exists in the mind) provides valid data for psychology (pp

138-139). This type of theory has many benefits for extrinsically motivated learners. It can not

be noted enough, how much influence a teachers expectation for their class has on the

achievements of learners. Experience has shown that what standard the teacher holds for the

students, is the standard they will achieve. Lowering expectations in essence, will lower results.

While students must be expected to succeed, they also must not be overstressed. From

overstressing learners, the learning process is hindered. Students do not have the time or the

essential tools to remember the material. That being stated, some stress is beneficial. For some

assignments, students will learn to perform well while under stress. Some students will even

prefer to be pushed and stretched to their limits.

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Running head: PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

References

Berns, R. (2012). Child, family, school, community: Socialization and support.

Nelson Education