My Educational Philosophy : My Philosophy Of Education

Currently, I am responsible for managing the science instructional programs and personnel in a chartered middle school. As a supervisor for the department, I develop/source curriculum materials for teachers and collaborate with them to plan and implement instructional lessons daily. I manage the financial resources for the department and constantly monitor the teaching practices that will impact our organizational goal and vision.

When I started my career as a high school science teacher, I had no idea of the extent to which it would impact me and the path it would drive my life down. Many years before, I developed a love for science that began during my sophomore year of high school in chemistry. My teacher was a once-in-a-lifetime teacher that took a subject many found boring finding ways to inspire and motivate. This single class was the true starting point of the long, winding journey to medicine. As I moved on through my high school and college education I searched for a way to stay within science and continue to grow. The clear and only visible answer to me at the time was to be a teacher.

My personal philosophy of education as a teacher is to have the kind of elementary classroom in which students feel safe, welcome, curious, and happy. This can be done by implementing some of the techniques found in Teach Like A Champion by Doug Lemov. Some of the techniques that I plan on implementing are the techniques of: stretch it, format matters, and warm/strict. One way in which I would make my students feel safe is by implementing some of the ideas found in Is everyone really equal? by Ӧzlem Sensoy and Robin DiAngelo. As a teacher, it’s important to help a student understand where they are in relation to others while not placing judgment. Above all, it is important for the student to learn respect for self and others.

My philosophy of education is that every student gets an equal opportunity to learn in a safe, comfortable and fostering environment. As I reflect on my teaching and learning principles, I realize that my mission as a teacher is based on the following thoughts: to enhance positive learning, provide equal opportunity to learning to assist closing the education gap and to use evidence based teaching strategies to present concepts in various modalities.

After taking the Educational Philosophies Self-Assessment test, I was able to figure out my referencing scores for my ideal logical instructional principles believed rational of the classification of educational archetypes. The areas of greatest influence in my philosophy of education included Humanism with a total of 21 points, Perennialism and Existentialism with 18 total points in those areas. Essentialism was second with 16 points and Reconstructionism record surveyed. The purpose of schooling is to build productive members of society and the philosophy I scored the highest on reflects the way I see teaching as an entity. Humanism is the theory or belief that learning from the perspective of human potential for growth can shift of influence cognitive dimensions of education for the student. “Humanists also believe that it is necessary to study the person as a whole, especially as an individual grows and develops over the lifespan. It follows that the study of the self, motivation, and goals are areas of particular interest” (Learning Theories, 2016).

My teaching style can be best described as one that is student centered. My teaching style incorporates hands on learning and students actively participating in lessons. I believe that students should be able to discover lessons on their own through hands on activity. Also, my teaching style focuses on the idea of enhancing individual development. I believe that students should be actively involved with their education on all levels. My students will be able to make choices about the content they will be learning and how to present their knowledge of the content. It is my belief that evaluation of student learning should varied. While many teachers rely on tests, I believe that students should be given options to give presentations, create posters, and other creative methods that also allow the teacher to gauge their understanding.

My philosophy is that teaching is building lifelong habits so students have the skills, knowledge, and motivation to be successful learners. My role as a teacher is to engage students’ interest in learning, to create a supportive learning environment, and to provide resources for all students in my classroom. My relationship with students is one of encouragement, structure and patience. I encourage all students to be actively involved in their learning and I use a variety of methods to encourage discussion and interaction. Some methods I frequently use in my teaching are questioning techniques, gradual release of responsibility (I do, we do, you do), educational protocols like pair-share, and incorporating the use of technology with students. In creating lesson plans, I consider students’ developmental needs and learning styles.

Education is a tool that helps you understand why things arise by applying knowledge, beliefs and narratives. Students study how to express themselves and develop their intellectual capacity. The aim of the education is to develop the human personality in respect to the Democrats principles of coexistence. It is in the school where we learn the system of decisions by direct or indirect vote, therefore we know a Democrat system. In my experience, teachers like to see the positive effects they can make on the students but at the time of retirement they crave the feeling of educating and the possibilities of continuing to educate. In the book "The Heart Is the teacher", the author begins by recounting his last day as teacher and principal at Benjamin Franklin High School. This moves him too much to think he won't come back. Teachers are role models and important figures for students because they are the ones who guide our way of thinking.

During diurnal period in 1938, John Dewey addressed a room of professional educators and urged them to take up the task of “finding out just what education is”. In response, his own view on the term is presented in this piece as it is consistent with the basis of this philosophy. “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself”. John Dewey, 1859-1952, philosopher, psychologist, education reformer. My ultimate goal is to teach ideas that that are so outstanding that they live forever, in order to find truths which are consistent. It is my belief that the curriculum is essential knowledge and skills and academic rigor that must be learnt by students in order for them to function effectively in society.

The purpose of education is to help build young students into productive citizens. College is not for everyone, but everyone deserves to get the tools necessary in K-12 to make well-rounded decisions as an adult. I believe that in order for every student to get these tools, there must be diverse teaching strategies in all classrooms. Every student learns differently, and each student should be given a fair chance to learn and succeed. I firmly believe in LRE’s, and I like to make sure that each student with a disability is given the best chance to grow. Most importantly, it is my goal to make sure that each student is in a safe learning environment by using classroom management and organization. Educating children is more than just a job; it is a life style. If the teacher only treats education like it is a job, that teacher will hinder the success of that child in the future.

As I progress in my undergraduate studies, I find myself growing an appreciation for education and lifelong learning. I did not always know that I wanted to be an educator and perhaps I did not initially choose this path for the right reasons, but throughout this process, I have found that I have had a change in the source of my motivation. When I first stepped foot into the classroom as an educator, I was intimidated, I was nervous, and I had doubts in my decision to spend the rest of my life standing in front of a classroom, teaching a room full of children. It was not until I was able to make a connection with each of the students that I began to realize that teaching is so much more than being an instructor. Teachers are an inspiration; teachers are supportive; they are a positive influence, an academic advisor, a life coach, and are encouraging; teachers are not just an instructor. Through my various field placements at Newcomer Academy, Louis E. Dieruff High School, and Southern Lehigh High School, including my teaching experience at Lehigh Valley Summerbridge, I have established a desire to teach a diverse group of students from various economic and cultural backgrounds. My teaching philosophy is developed to foster an environment that supports these types of learners.

Deciding what you want to do with your life is a very difficult decision that every person has to face in their lives, especially during their teen years when people are expected to choose a career that helps them to fulfill their dreams. Since I wasn’t the exception, and I had decided how I wanted to help people from a very young age, it took me a bit longer to realize I didn’t just want to help people, but I also wanted to do it by doing something I enjoy and love. That’s when I chose English pedagogy, because it is a way to help people by giving them the tools to learn and the possibility to achieve what they want in their lives through education and the learning of the language I like. This three years I’ve spent studying to become a teacher have not only made me learn more English, but have also made me realize that I want to keep improving my skills as a teacher, deciding to continue

Every teacher has their own way of teaching, which reflects back to the philosophy they believe in. As a future educator, my goal is to educate the student in ways they have not been taught before. Over time students come across teachers who generally do not care and just do it for the money and time off in the summer. When a student has a teacher who makes a difference in their life, it is very rewarding for both the teacher and student. In class we received a philosophical self-inventory. After grading these statements I have come to the conclusion that my philosophy is Progressivism.

The learning experience should be that of a collective nature where students are able to indiscriminately relate to the information, re-teach the information and have a balanced incorporation of all the learning centers in society; including the home and the church. The goal of this incorporation is to create a balanced learning environment that facilitates holistic development in the young mind. As professionals entrusted with the shaping of young minds, teachers must facilitate learning and personal, spiritual, ethical and academic development. My philosophy for education is a multi-part philosophy that encapsulates the idea of holistic and inclusive learning. The philosophy caters for the overall shaping and development of the young mind and includes aspects of balanced training, incorporated teachings and it generally focuses on training students to become teachers.

When understanding education there are many different ways which the purpose of education may be applied and defined. My personal philosophy of education is, 'educators must nurture/guide students within the academic field, to that the aims, goals and results during this task of educating or being educated are achieved '. This philosophy is used to understand that both teachers and students play an integral role in education. Academic performance, classroom methods/practices and also meeting the requirements of both the senior secondary Australian Curriculum Framework and the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers Framework are examples of these roles. This essay will discuss in detail how my personal philosophy of education, reflects on the role of teachers and learners, the aim of education and the methods and practices used in the classroom. Jean Jacques Rousseau, Paulo Freire, Locke, and Plato/Socrates are the four theorists that shall be used within this essay, to support claims and justify statements regarding this philosophy. John Dewey and A.S Neil are two non-supporting theorists that shall be used in contrast to justify this philosophy.