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Bernadette Floyd

Dr. Folden

Education 1301.440

April 9, 2019

Philosophy of Education

Growing up, I never thought I would decide to become a teacher. I had always heard that

it was a hard job that doesn’t pay enough money. I was sitting in a church pew, listening to my

father preach, when it hit me. “About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is

the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?’ Jesus called a little child to him and put the child

among them. Then he said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like

little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as

humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes

a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me’” (Matthew 18:1-5 NLT). This is the

moment I felt called to teach. Jesus was and is the perfect teacher, and I want to follow in his

footsteps.

My style of learning and teaching is prominently personal. I believe all teachers should

make an effort to connect with each and every one of their students on a personal level. Teachers

are not just facilitators to cover material. They are meant to help the student to grow and thrive

individually. How can a teacher help a student learn if she doesn’t care about or even know the

student? The answer is simple: she can’t. I have had several teachers that didn’t even take the

time to learn my name. I don’t want to be that kind of teacher.

The philosophy I most identify with is humanism. This encompasses focusing on the

student and his or her human potential. Humanism also strives to allow people to be the best they
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can be, a concept I plan on incorporating into my role as an educator. I want to give students the

opportunity to learn and achieve success, whatever that means for them. No matter what a

student’s backgrounds or skills are, I want to capture each student’s interest and play to his or her

natural abilities and aptitudes. My younger brother has always hated math, however he is

extremely talented in music. I desire to be the kind of teacher who sees that and focuses in on his

interest and natural intelligence, to bring out the best in him as an individual person.

As far as methods of assessment, I may have a different approach to determining whether

or not a student has learned. While I would include all of the traditional forms of assessment like

tests, individual assignments, and group projects, I feel that the most effective way of assessing

is simply through observation. How can I measure my effectiveness as a teacher? If I can clearly

see that my students are engaging in the learning process and getting excited about what they’re

doing, I have done my job. I believe people are natural learners, and teachers of young children

are put in place to help keep that spark going. Teachers should encourage questions and look for

that sparkle in a child’s eyes when they learn something new.

In conclusion, my greatest goal as a teacher will be to provide students the tools to

flourish to their fullest potential. I will do my best to connect with each of them and see things

from their perspective. I strive to teach my students life lessons and give them opportunities to

ask questions and think for themselves.