My Educational Philosophy

I believe that a student is an individual with personality and learning traits as unique as a fingerprint.  I will help each student toward his or her potential as a strong contributor to our global society.  I will assist students in formulating and answering questions about their world.  I have a vision that all students will be comfortable asking, seeking, and finding answers to satisfy their natural curiosity of the world around them.   I believe that I am responsible for leaving my imprint upon learners that will encourage them toward a love of learning and the ability to question and access knowledge throughout their lives.

The purpose of education should include tasks given to students that encourage reflective thinking and practical applications within their world.  As constructivist theorists believe, I too, feel that real world learning environments are necessary to educate our students within a global concept.  By using collaboration, student-centered models, and requiring a higher-level of thinking and evaluating information, a student will be ready to integrate knowledge obtained in the classroom into their communities and workplace.   All classrooms need an accepting, open, welcoming environment with which to expand the process of learning.  Feeling safe to explore, exchange ideas and thoughts, and express knowledge obtained is of great importance in assisting young learners.  As a student gains confidence in his or her abilities, a new life-long learner will be set on the path of information gathering and appraisal.  As stated by William Butler Yeats, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

Opportunities for the learner should include selecting and incorporating the technology necessary to aid in the instructional process.  Both teacher and student will need access, through the use of technology, to the world around them and the ability to explore any new information or experiences.  Inquiries by students and teachers should lead to deeper understandings of the subject presented.  Learners should gain a love of reading along with a love of schooling.  Respect, caring, empathy, and discernment are required to be a productive member of the world community.   Thus, the classroom should include an environment of expectation and guidance.

For myself, I will model a leadership that includes fairness and open-mindedness.  My classroom will show learning to be fluid and adaptable.  I will create an open, patient, exploratory environment through accepting individual differences and welcoming observations.  I will work toward an ever-increasing mastery of new ideas in education and perpetuate a vision of my own life-long learning.  As a teacher, I have the power to pilot young learners toward a more productive life.  Teaching through example and showing an interest in limitless knowledge, I can show learners that their individuality and knowledge does matter and is required as they contribute to a better tomorrow.