Running head: PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Abstract

I believe a well-rounded teacher embodies the characteristics of an effective practitioner,

caring leader, and lifelong learner. With a safe, positive and supportive classroom, my students

have a space to think, feel, and express. Because they feel supported, they are motivated to learn

new material and achieve great heights. My students know that I love them and my goal for them

is to become better students than when they entered my room. Collaboration, experiential

learning, and technology will aid in reaching each student. Every gender, ethnicity,

exceptionality, personality is welcome in my classroom and will be given equal opportunity to

succeed.
Running head: PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Philosophy of Education

I am passionate about being instrumental in raising up the next generation. Nelson

Mandela says, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

I am confident that the students that are coming through my classroom can change the world.

When thinking about the most impactful and lasting skills I have learned, it has been in a

classroom setting. I teach foundational skills that can be built on to enable lifelong learners. I

believe that if I am an effective practitioner, caring leader, and lifelong learner my students will

have a greater opportunity to grow into the people they were meant to be.

Effective Practitioner

I believe that every student can learn. Although each student might not learn the same,

each has the ability to learn. I implement this concept in my classroom by differentiating

instruction. I reach my visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners by teaching the curriculum to

meet each individual learning style. I also use different resources such as videos, hands-on

activities and movement to enhance the learning experience for each student. I also believe that

learning should be experiential. Students are much more interested in the material if they can ask

questions and express curiosity about the subject matter. In my classroom, this is apparent

through the use of manipulatives, objects, technologies, and a variety of readings with which my

students may experiment. Through these methods, they gain knowledge driven by interest

instead of simply listening to a lecture.

I believe that technology enhances learning because it allows students to explore and

interact with different concepts in a variety of ways. Technologies such as a promethean board,
Running head: PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

chromebooks, ipads, and 3D printers are beneficial tools. Technology has been a great

assessment tool thus far in my classroom. I recently taught a lesson where my students wrote a

song using their vocabulary words and then filmed it for me to watch. I assessed them by simply

having a checklist on Google sheets. There are many other creative ways to use technology. And

as new forms of technology are introduced, we will use them effectively in my classroom.

Technology is an aid for teaching to different learning styles. There are a multitude of programs

online that can greatly benefit the auditory, visual and kinesthetic learners.

I believe that collaboration and group work facilitate learning because students need to

hear others’ thoughts. Fresh perspectives about the material and thoughts bouncing off one

another are integral in the learning process. As a teacher, I could stand up in front of them and

talk to them for the entire day. However, when they work in groups, they can share their thoughts

and questions and learn from one another. Along with collaboration, I believe that students learn

best with quick paced teaching. Developmentally, children have an attention span of only 15-20

minutes, so I strive to make my teaching style engaging. I like to have my students up and

moving. I think that when they are stationary, they get bored and check out easily, so my lessons

are interactive and require movement. An example of this is when I had my students act out what

particles in the different states of matter look like and when I had my students perform a tableau

of the relationships in a coral reef.

Caring Leader

I believe students learn best when I am firm, fair, and consistent. I am firm with my

students by giving expectations and not wavering but expecting them to be met. I am fair by

treating each student equally and expecting the same behavior out of each of them. I give them
Running head: PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

equal opportunity to learn in my classroom and excel. I am consistent by always reacting in the

same way and giving the same nonverbal gestures, and verbal corrections. My students need not

guess whether they will get in trouble for something. They already know the desired and

undesired behaviors that are permitted in my classroom. I believe that students learn best in a

caring, positive, and supportive environment. I speak to each of my students and ask them how

they are doing in the morning and always offer a smile. Positivity is the best instrument in

motivating my students. If they know that they are supported and cared for, their success is more

likely. My motto is “grow to achieve” and my goal as a teacher is for my students to grow. I do

not care so much about where they are as where they are going. Each one of my students will be

an achiever and an overcomer. This looks like meeting them where they are whether it be

socially, emotionally or intellectually. I desire that each of my students leaves my classroom a

better person than they entered, and I believe the classroom climate has everything to do with

that. I believe students learn best in a safe and open environment. Bullying is not to be tolerated

in my classroom because I believe the emotional health of each student is valuable. My

classroom will be an open space for students to think, feel and express. This looks like being a

mediator between students, encouraging students to stand up for themselves, and helping them

build their self-efficacy and confidence.

Lifelong Learner

I believe that reflection is an integral part of my development as a teacher. Reflection on

the lessons I teach along with the assessments I have done drive my instruction. I am always

learning new strategies, getting new ideas and ways to reach each of my students. When

reflecting on my abilities as a teacher, I adjust my instruction to meet the needs of my students

Running head: PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

and better equip them to learn. I believe that learning from different teachers about their teaching

styles and what works for them helps drive my instruction as well. Collaboration is not only

beneficial for my students, but it is beneficial for me as well. When speaking with the more

experienced teachers and collaborating with them, it helps me learn how to teach specific

concepts and gives me a fresh perspective. I believe that a lifelong learner partakes in

professional development. This looks like reading different books on education and participating

in seminars held by professionals. We will never “arrive’ in this profession, and I am a firm

believer that there will always be more that I can learn and ways that I can improve my teaching

style.

Conclusion

I believe the most effective teachers embody characteristics of an effective practitioner,

caring leader and lifelong learner. To empower the next generation of learners, I encourage

growth. With a safe, positive and supportive classroom, my students have a space to think, feel,

and express. Because they feel supported, they are motivated to learn new material and achieve

great heights. My students know that I love them and my goal for them is to become better

students than when they entered my room. My motto for my class is to grow to achieve and that

is my motto for myself. I will grow by reflection and collaboration to achieve even greater ways

to teach. My instruction is driven by student learning. My students are confident in learning

because they know that if they fail, I will be beside them to pick them up and we will press on

together to achieve success.