Personal Statement: My Philosophy Of Education

As a teacher, I will work to fully provide opportunities for authentic learning, where every child feels valued, safe and included. My goal will be to find occasions every day to nurture independent learning, along with peer support that promotes a sense of personal growth and achievement. I recognize that every child has strengths and weaknesses, special talents, and specific needs, regardless of individual challenges. My objective will be to model appropriate behavior and show acceptance of everyone

For me, the decision to become a teacher is more of a way of life than a career. I have always loved school, practicing at being school marm from a young age, and voraciously devouring every shred of education offered me in my career as a student. If it were possible, I would be a student for the rest of my life. And then I still would not have learned enough. As a teacher, I hope to instill this appetite for knowledge in secondary students. They are, after all, the future leaders of the world, and what better place to expand the minds of the generations to come than here in Appalachia where education programs, especially the sciences, which I plan to teach, are poorly funded and children’s dreams

I was raised by two hard working parents who instilled in me the value of higher education. My parents didn’t have the opportunity to pursue education. My mother finished high school in Mexico; but soon after graduating she began to work. On the other hand, my father wasn’t as lucky. In Guatemala education isn’t encouraged among families because the necessity of money is too great due to poverty. In my father’s case he began working when he was 7 years old causing him to only attend up to the second grade. All my father learned was that hard labor is necessary to provide for his family. My parents wish they had been given the opportunity to continue learning which is why they always emphasized the importance of education to my five

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.

Children see the world in a different light than anyone else. They also learn differently than each other. I also believe that teachers need to differentiate instruction and build in adaptations so that children will understand the concept. Classroom management is also key in how children learn. The environment must be comfortable and promote learning. Assessment will also be used daily so that student progress is recorded. The instruction can be adapted to fit the students’ progress in order to meet their goals. I will have individual goals for students so that they can all be challenged but able to scaffold and build off of prior knowledge.

"Some people make things happen, some watch while things happen, and some wonder ‘what happened?’ Which type of person are you?" author unknown.

I believe that every person/student is very unique and brings a lot ot the table in order for everyone to learn from. The teacher needs to create a safe and welcoming learning environment when at school. The students should feel comfortable when coming to class and find that their teacher cares about their education. When caring for and loving the students in the class the teacher is respecting them and welcoming them with open arms. Through this, I will work with the students in helping them get where they need to be academically and teaching on their level of learning they are in. I will go to all lengths to help them grow in and grasp what is being taught if they are behind not comprehending the

     Have you ever had a teacher you really enjoyed? Why did you enjoy him? For most people it is because the teacher interacted with the student and made them feel involved in the learning process. As Carl Jung puts it: “One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.” (para. 249).

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.

Children are the future and their education is the key to our society’s success. When considering this, I realize I have an immense responsibility as an educator. The main focuses of my teaching are active learning, building character within students, and providing meaningful curriculum. I want to create a comfortable setting where every student feels safe to learn. In many ways, my philosophy agrees with the holistic approach to education. I feel this challenges the student to not only learn the academic curriculum, but also provides them with opportunities to learn about themselves and the world we live in. I also admire this approach in that it provides students with challenges they must solve themselves. I believe this is extremely important in teaching the 21st century skills they will use their entire life. I believe we must look at the larger picture of what skills and knowledge we are giving our students so they may find success in their future.

Education is the process of learning that can take place anywhere and at any time. I believe that creativity and activity as well as books and lessons are essential to the learning process. As a teacher, I hope to instill in the children a sense of knowledge and self-worth that will remain with them throughout their lives.

Art is a form of communication that fosters our distinct ideas. Artist create music, paintings, sculptures, philosophy, novels, films, and computer designs. Even engineers have to be part mathematician and part artist. People should understand that art plays a heavy role in a prosperous society. Pupils can enrich their aesthetic keenness in the same manner that they can grow any expertise, with practice. The more students are exposed to art in a visual form, the better they will comprehend the world around them.

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.

There is a saying, “Students do not care how much you know until they know how much you care,” I have found this to be true with my own children and with every child that I have encountered. Caring means not only providing an emotionally and physically safe environment. It also necessitates establishing clear expectations, rules and procedures so students know what to do and when to do it, it requires advanced planning of pertinent, collaborative, and enjoyable lessons that challenge children to achieve their best work, and it begs the development of fair and consistent relationships based on respect and understanding. I believe that teaching means recognizing each student as diverse and unique, with different learning styles and intelligences (Savage & Savage, 2010, p. 130). I am not just teaching subject matter, I am nurturing future citizens that are active community members and life-long learners.

I believe that every student is different but special in their own way. Every student should be instilled with good values so that they can grow up to be good valuable men and women. They deserve to be educated in a positive environment where they feel safe, comfortable, motivated and engaged in their learning. As an educator, I will work hard to guide and help prepare life-long learners so that they can choose their future decisions wisely. I feel education is very important in every aspect and the focus should be on more than just the subjects being taught. I think teaching involves one to go above and beyond the basics. Since each student is unique, one may require more than the other so putting focus on the student’s needs are just as important. It is my belief that all students have the ability to learn with assistance. I am a true believer of open communication because students need to feel they can come and talk to their teacher whenever they need to.