My Philosophy of Education

            Humans are social creatures; therefore children need to be in a social environment in order to grow intellectually.  Children do not learn in a vacuum, but need a variety of conditions in order to learn effectively.  Gardner suggested that children should be taught in a children’s museum, and I believe that kind of classroom environment is essential for students.  The physical environment in which children learn the best is one that provides a variety of manipulatives, which allows all children to learn in the ways that are the most effective to them, and that is focused on them.  Aside from the physical environment, children need to be in an atmosphere where they feel comfortable to explore their own learning.  They need a safe, supportive, and accepting community in order to learn.  

            While socialization should be a priority, I believe that each child is an individual, with unique experiences and unique styles of learning.  It is important to recognize the styles of the children while being sure not to box them in.  A student who is highly spatial should be allowed to use this skill to learn, but should not be excluded from using other methods of learning.  I believe that children learn best when given the opportunity to explore topics in their own way, given all the support they need from me and from their peers.  I believe that it is important to integrate thinking, feeling, and doing and that students should be active participants in their own education by leaning to problem solve and to reflect.  I also believe that children are capable of great things, and need to be continually challenged while being fully supported.     

            Children need to be supported in a variety of ways.  Children’s basic needs need to be met if they are to grow and learn.  Children need to be clean and fed and rested.  Children need to feel safe, accepted, and supported.  These needs are a foundation on which children can begin, and if they are not met, we cannot expect a child to learn and grow to the best of their ability.  As a teacher I will ensure that all the children in my class have food in their stomachs, have clean teeth, hands, and clothes, and if they are not able to sleep at home, that they get to rest at school.  I will provide an environment of trust and strong community in my classroom where all the children can feel safe, accepted, and supported.  Once a child’s basic needs are met, they can begin to learn. 

            Children need a foundation in the basics.  It is absolutely critical that the curriculum include reading, writing and mathematics for the children to be prepared for a life-time of learning.  As important as those subjects are, they are made more meaningful when mixed with social studies, geography, science, music, and art.  An integrated curriculum that allows children to explore a variety of topics while teaching them the fundamentals of reading, writing, and math will let them meaningfully delve deeply into their own education.  Students need to be able to relate their own experiences to what they are learning, and so the curriculum must be student focused, multicultural, varied and flexible.                

            A good teacher must be able to present the curriculum in a way that is meaningful to each and every student.  The role of the teacher is to guide learning in such a way that allows the students to be active participants.  The teacher should focus on the student first, and the material second.  The teacher should create a culture in their classroom that fosters trust and respect encouraging students to reach their individual potential.  A teacher should always strive to keep within the ethical realm of their school, but most importantly to keep the best interests of the students at heart.  A teacher should use all resources available to them within the school and the community at large. 

            I believe that schools should provide an environment where children can learn to be learners.  I believe that education should be focused on the child teaching them to be active participates and to problem solve and reflect, to learn to develop new ideas, to deal with and even promote change, and to live authentically.  I believe education should teach children processes as well as facts, to teach them to read, write, and calculate, and to be responsible members of society.  I believe that as an educator I need to provide a curriculum that is student centered, that covers the basics, that is integrated, multicultural, and varied and that meets benchmarks while being meaningful to each student.  I believe that as a teacher I need to meet student’s basic needs while challenging them to better themselves.  I believe that I can teach my students that they are authentic individuals with something to contribute to society by guiding their own learning.

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