Molding Lives: A Philosophy on Education

“Children are the promise of the future.  They are the future themselves” (George Albert Smith).  This truth places an enormous responsibility on the teachers of America.  Students’ success in education is enhanced or minimized through their teachers.  Reflecting on my many years of attending school, I recall my teachers of extremely successful and terribly unsuccessful philosophies of education.  As I consider my experiences as a student, and now as a future educator, I realize the importance of dedicated and hard-working teachers. Through accumulating and puzzling together various facts and theories on education, I believe that teachers are a key source in molding lives and creating a passion for learning within their students.

Graphic: http://www.brookvale-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

These goals are impossible to reach without constructing a successful classroom atmosphere.  Building a community in the classroom is one essential part of classroom management in my teaching philosophy. In my classroom, the other students and I will welcome and respect everyone.  Every child will know the expectations of the classroom, and even help develop classroom rules, regulations, and consequences.  Integrity will be expected and rewarded.  Because disciplinary actions can engrave a lasting effect upon children, punishment will be handled in a mature and professional manner.  I understand that with gifted and inclusion programs prevalent throughout the country, the ability levels in my classroom will vary.  This will create a challenge to the goal of classroom unity; however, treating each student with equality, respect, and acceptance will increase the ultimate goal of classroom harmony.

Graphic: http://www.trnty.edu

I recognize that each student is unique and carries his or her own learning style. Using a variety of teaching methods, I will incorporate aspects from each of their learning styles into my lesson planning. I feel that it is important to use various skills and do different activities that will provide my students with numerous learning opportunities.  Using technology in the workforce is crucial in today’s modern society.  It also feeds into many different learning styles.  Therefore, I will provide assignments in my classroom that involve useful technological skills.  Field trips, guest speakers, and other various activities are also important in establishing different styles of learning. 

Graphic: http://www.kssos.org/images/Kansas%20Kids/school.png

I believe that parental involvement in and outside the classroom helps parents understand their child’s learning style better.  I will keep my students parents informed of their child’s academic achievement through frequent e-mails, parent/teacher conferences, and phone calls.  I know that parents are the main teachers in their child’s life; consequently, they need to be enlightened in various areas.  I will inform them of different after school programs, clubs, and activities so that they will be able to place their child in a safe and healthy learning environment when they are at work.  I understand that I will not be able to change my students’ home environment, but I can inform parents and students of ways to enhance knowledge and build relationships in the home.

Graphic: http://www.healthyplace.com

I am aware that teaching is a career where you can never stop learning or improving.  Therefore, my professional development will never cease.  As a teacher, I plan on continually improving teaching methods, discovering student development, and changing student/teacher roles.  Additional classes post-college will provide me with necessary knowledge of this evolving information.  Faculty unity can increase this knowledge as well.  Teacher and school accountability is raging to its height.  By holding high standards for my students, I will strive to achieve success in standardized testing for my students and my school.  In turn I will hold high standards for my coworkers as they hold them for me.  Lesson plans and discoveries of new teaching methods will be shared as a team and developed with unity in order to meet these standards.  As a member of a teaching staff, I plan to fuse together with my coworkers in order to build strength and develop more precise advanced lesson plans. 

Graphic: http://www.caminada.co.uk

As a teacher, I will not merely teach subject matter; I will teach students.  Not only will each of my students walk away from each school year with more educational knowledge, but they will be able to take pride in accomplishing goals, establishing dreams, gaining life skills, and belonging to a community.  “Children are worth more than all the treasures of the world” (George Albert Smith).  As a teacher, it is my obligation to discover the individual treasure in my students and polish each of them to their brightest shine. 

Graphic: http://www.bethanyboulder.org/Images/happy-kids.jpg