My Philosophy of Education
At this point in my life, I have experienced many things that have helped me come to a comfortable place where I know exactly what my calling is. A calling that goes beyond clocking in and doing the mundane. I have been blessed to arrive at this point with contentment, energy and excitement. A place called teaching. I have many incredible people to thank in helping me formulate my values, most of who are under the age of 11. I have had the privilege of working with so many wonderful children for many years that taught me the value of teaching by the knowledge and experiences they shared with me every day. Thanks to children like a kindergartener named Jose who when asked to go home and look for things around the house that started with the ‘B’ sound, came back the next day and told me he had benis. “ A benis?” I asked with hesitation. He explained that a “benis” was a house where bees lived and made honey. “Oh, a bee’s nest,” I said with relief. “Yeah, that’s what I said, a benis!” exclaimed Jose. Memorable experiences like these are what warm my heart, when children’s thoughts are formulating into a treasure full of life experiences.
Children have an innate curiosity that allows them to be inquisitive about anything and everything. Their constant need for knowledge rapidly evolves, which requires that educators be ready to keep up with their demands. They will make so many significant interconnections with the knowledge that they’ve gained that teachers can help amplify those connections to make their learning meaningful. Students will undoubtedly thrive if they have a support system within their school and home environment. With the assistance of students’ caregivers, teachers can collaboratively set realistic goals, and expect these goals to be accomplished because we will work together in providing an enriching atmosphere, which will play a pivotal role as they are actively engaged in their exploration of new concepts.
Because children are naturally inquisitive and because they are generally social, they are capable of capturing the essence of many subject areas without hesitation. Their lack of inhibition, and a hunger to know everything set the stage for open-ended learning through hands-on exploration and creativity. During the early stages of learning (before the age of 11), children need to be actively engaged by interacting with one another, physically touching tangible elements when allowable, and formulating ideas by asking many questions and exploring the possibilities. Children also appreciate and learn substantially more when they are allowed to be creative in their learning. Showcasing their knowledge through artwork, writing samples and show-and-tells are their creative expression of what they have learned. By doing so, they are processing information at a deeper level by making connections that are meaningful and purposeful to them. Children will process their learning in meaningful ways that will help provide the foundation for all their future learning. Students will encourage one another in their learning process by providing positive feedback and a genuine caring attitude toward each other. Socializing in the right context will promote morale, increase self-concept and self-esteem, and help to create a positive classroom culture that will be meaningful and purposeful for them.
As children become more aware of themselves and their connections to the world around them, education serves as a vehicle by which students can develop a deeper understanding of how the world functions. Advancements in various global industries such as in technology, agriculture, medical, auto, and energy to name just a few, are constantly evolving, and the educational expectations of our future generations will have to congruently evolve as well. As educators we must ensure that our students are ready and able to compete in a competitive world as grown adults. The purpose of education is to provide a framework for students to discover and gain a wealth of information, and to be able to use that information for all areas of learning. By modeling, providing strategies, keeping high expectations and holding students accountable, we are providing the tools necessary for our students to become leaders in all walks of life.
What does that mean and involve in elementary education? By providing an environment rich with all the necessary tools and materials, including competent and caring educators, students will be able to explore and learn, and make personal connections for themselves. By making these personal connections, students’ development of a positive self-concept is inevitable, and their need for further exploration is also inevitable. Students will inherently make choices that affect not only themselves, but their proximate and global surroundings as well. Students need to be aware of their surroundings and be appreciative of what people of different cultures and races offer because after all, we are all interconnected. Teachers then have a responsibility to create and promote a culturally rich environment so that children will understand and appreciate diversity in the classroom, in their society, and globally. By steering their learning in a way that is meaningful, they will begin to think in terms of personal careers, as well as how their presence can play a significant role in the grand scheme of things.
Children’s natural curiosity should always guide their learning. Students will be aware of their surroundings, not just in the classroom, but anywhere they are. There is a world rich with culture, nature, and experiences that will help shape their thinking. By observing and listening, students will build a stronger connection to the world in which they live. They should question and explore all that interest them, whether it be in math, science, language arts, social sciences, music, physical education or anything that will cause them to do more exploration. Through exploration, students will discover many more interests and be able to build on them.
Teachers need to be a solid foundation from which students will flourish. We should always provide the necessary tools so that students are equipped to learn and explore. We must provide an environment that promotes discovery so that each child will feel a sense of excitement upon entering the classroom. As we teach, we should always be sensitive to include all students who are at all levels of learning. Teachers need to set realistic goals and objectives to meet the needs of each student, while working collaboratively with their teaching team, as well as with building and district administrators. Teachers should competently guide their students through lessons, with the goal of each student mastering concepts, all while keeping in conjunction with federal and state mandates. A good teacher should provide all the necessary materials, directives, modeling, guidance, and time in order for students to successfully exhibit their newfound knowledge. They must have a keen sense of their students’ needs, strengths and weaknesses, and be able to creatively promote learning. When teachers approach subjects creatively, students are more likely to stay on task, be open-minded, and be willing to address new and exciting information. Teachers should promote creativity in all that they teach, and expect a reciprocal effect in the showcase of students’ work samples.
Teachers have to juggle so many responsibilities and personalities in order to fulfill their goals and objectives. They should be firm yet fair, critiquing and validating students’ efforts and accomplishments. They should be reflective of their own work and make any necessary changes to improve the academic structure of the learning process. Teachers should be energetic and creative so that students are better able to stay focused, engaged and on task. They should always be in tune with their students’ needs even without asking, and be able to look at their students for their frowns, tears, and puzzlement, and with a sincere and confident smile, let them know that they are valued not only for their accomplishments and efforts, but just for who they are.