RUNNING HEAD: PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION 1

Philosophy of Education

Emily Brown

North Greenville University

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Abstract

An efficient and competent teacher is not focused solely on instruction but aims to work

as an effective practitioner, caring leader, and lifelong learner inside and outside of the

classroom. To ensure effectiveness, teachers establish a philosophy of education that

communicates the goals of the teacher involving both personal and professional intentions.

Students deserve teachers who instruct to the best of their ability, nurture the well-being of their

students, and continually advance their knowledge in the field of education. The role of an

educator is one that impacts both the hearts and minds of every student that passes through their

classroom door, growing their students’ intelligence as well as their character.

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Philosophy of Education

A teacher’s job entails more than simply teaching content. Pursuing success in the field

of education calls for teachers to be effective practitioners, caring leaders, and lifelong learners.

As a teacher who desires to make an impact during my career, I have established a personal

philosophy of education to model in my daily instruction and behavior. My philosophy of

education is based upon practical experience in the classroom and communicating with,

observing under, and reading about effective classroom teachers. Teaching is a job that has

lasting effects on the upcoming generation and the potential successes of the classroom students

and their ability to become productive citizens. Therefore, it is vital for teachers to develop

habits that are efficacious inside and outside of the classroom.

Effective Practitioner

Effective practitioners believe that students learn in different ways and at different rates.

Differentiated instruction, the practice of involving different avenues of learning in classroom

instruction, helps reach students through lessons that incorporate a variety of learning styles.

According to Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, there are seven types of

learning styles. Effective teachers differentiate their instruction to reach multiple types of

learning styles. Every student is capable of learning, some just might learn faster or slower than

others. Differentiated instruction is rooted in ongoing assessments of every student and takes

multiple approaches towards teaching classroom content. This instruction is student-centered

and is focused on reaching every student to the best of the teacher’s ability. Effective

practitioners also teach according to the philosophy that every student, no matter his/her
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background, is capable of learning. Differentiated instruction aids in accomplishing this goal.

Teachers should not only believe that every student can learn and that students learn in different

ways, but also educators should display a passion for learning and for the instructional material.

Students are more likely to retain and connect with content if the teacher is excited about the

subject material they teach. Enthusiasm is contagious. Passion for learning is contagious. If a

teacher displays the importance of a subject, enforces real world application of the subject to the

students’ personal lives, and teaches the material in an exciting and engaging manner, the

learning for the student is more likely to be meaningful. Once the material has been taught in a

meaningful way, effective practitioners use their assessments to guide instruction. Similar to a

guidebook or road-map, assessments should be taught in an ongoing manner, using both formal

and informal practices, in order to direct the teacher on which path to take next in classroom,

group, or individual instruction. Assessments should be used to gather information about what

the students know, if they have mastery of the content, and where they need more direct

guidance. Assessments should not just be an accumulation of grades at the end of a unit of

instruction. Incorporating assessments throughout lessons allows a teacher to catch areas of

student misunderstanding before the end of the unit so they may monitor and adjust accordingly.

In this, the role of students is to be active participants in the classroom and strive to try their best

during instructional time so that the teacher can guide his/her students in an ongoing order.

Caring Leader

Similar to students playing a role in effective classroom instruction, students also play a

role in an effective classroom environment. Caring leaders believe that classroom management
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should not be reactive, but preventative. With this model of belief, students and teachers

collaborate in order to create guidelines, expectations, and goals of the students to help promote

good behavior and set a standard for the students to hold themselves accountable to. With set

standards, the teacher will have a consistent policy to abide by and students will know which

form of correction to expect if they break the standard of behavior. Therefore, the amount of a

time a teacher spends calling down students for actions is minimized and there is more time for

the teacher to instruct or seek out positive behaviors in his/her students. With accordance to this,

I believe that students learn best when there is a positive relationship between the teacher and the

student. Students are more likely to experience intrinsic motivation when they feel extrinsic

motivation from the one asking the students to complete the work and are encouraging them to

hold themselves to complete their work to the best of their abilities. Teachers are steady role

models in a child’s life and students usually rise or fall to the expectations of their role models. If

a student believes their teacher does not like or believe in them, they are likely to not like or not

believe in themselves. Also, a positive relationship between student and teacher diminishes a

need for a power struggle between the two parties.

A caring leader is genuinely mindful about the success of his/her students both inside and

outside of the classroom. A teacher’s role extends beyond teaching course content, but also

enhancing a child’s character growth for the sake of each child’s future and ability to become a

well-rounded member of society. Instead of neglecting a child’s needs, caring leaders work

tirelessly to provide students support they need in all areas in order ensure success . To a teacher,

caring about a student may even look like meeting students at the door everyday, checking up on

a student’s home life, inquiring about their many personal stories, giving grace when needed,
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talking about future goals, or being mindful of of the students interests when planning lessons.

Fostering a compassionate heart, inviting spirit, and a nurturing demeanor connects the

classroom community so that the teacher has a strong rapport with students.

Lifelong Learner

Personal reflection should be a consistent part of a teacher’s instruction and professional

development as a lifelong learner. Daily, quarterly, and annual reflection should be strategic in a

teacher’s decision making about current and upcoming lessons, goals, or tasks. Learning what

does and does not work for students through reflection and observing final assessments helps

drive future instruction. No teacher ever fully “arrives.” Therefore, there is always room for

adjustment and improvement. There is always new knowledge to be obtained and applied.

Another part of being a lifelong learner is continuing education through professional seminars,

online courses, attending educational conferences, building on already learned knowledge, or

obtaining a master’s or doctoral level degree. Teachers should always be reading about new

practices and philosophies for the classroom and improving upon their understanding of content

in order to best aid their students. A teacher who displays a lifelong learner attitude provides a

strong example and models a lifestyle for his/her students to observe. Learning never stops being

important, and if a teacher is going to tell their students this fact then they need to live by it as

well.

Teachers are called to continually work on improving the lives of themselves and their

students. In order to do this, teachers should be effective practitioners, caring leaders, and

lifelong learners. May I never view my teaching career as merely a means of income or a
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stagnant role I play during the day; let teachers everywhere make it their aim to continually

develop as teachers of impact who kindle the young minds’ of students everywhere. A teacher is

an active learner inside and outside of the classroom so they may be a strong and nurturing

counterpart in a child’s daily life.