Below is my philosophy about child development.  It is important that teachers realize there is more to teaching than just to the child's brain, but there needs to be teaching the child as a whole.  I enjoyed writing this paper because I was able to fully express how I can use my newly found knowledge of children's development within the classroom.

Unlocking the Door of Opportunity

The cognitive development of a child, which involves remembering, imagining, thinking, reasoning, and learning, plays an optimal part in their life.  One way to ensure my students are strengthened in intellectual activity, is allowing them to be active participants within class lessons.  To do this, I will employ three learning techniques that help children understand the material.  Giving time for cooperative learning lets children work with partners and in groups for assignments, becoming aware of others’ views and beginning to form their own opinions.  Another method I would utilize is discovery learning.  This is when a child works independently to figure out problems, such as doing an individual worksheet or creating their own science project.  This method strongly boosts their self-esteem and academic performance.  The third technique I will incorporate into my classroom is generative learning, which teaches students how to blend existing information and new information together through problem solving.  I would utilize technology and music, with this type of learning, which has shown to aid in brain development.  These three methods create active participation from children allowing for heightened cognitive development in the classroom, ultimately helping them to learn the required material in ways that are enjoyable.

Although the cognitive development of a child is important, the physical development of a child plays a vital role in their life as well.  This area includes not only the growing and changing of the body, but involves motor skills and physiological development which influences a child’s health, nutrition, and future illnesses.  As a teacher, I need to show my students that having healthy habits is essential for having a healthy life.  One way I can do this is to never take away a child’s recess.  I need to find alternative methods of discipline because I believe a child needs time away from the classroom to relieve stress and to move around.  This will strengthen their large motor skills, such as jumping, running, and skipping, and it will also allow them to develop a physical routine which will make them less likely to become inactive adults.  I will make sure some of my lessons give children an opportunity to move around the classroom.  Thinking and movement are processed by the same area of the brain, and physically involving children within the classroom activities will improve their attention span and performance.  To further stress the importance of being healthy, I will integrate nutritional principles into my lessons.  I need to teach my children about nutritious foods and proper exercise.  To model this principle, I will reduce the amount of treats I give them by rewarding their accomplishments with other items, such as small toys or stickers.  I believe that by being a strong example to my students, they will realize the importance of having a healthy lifestyle.