My Philosophy Statement on Education

The Purpose of Education in Our Society

I believe that the children are our future. Everything our society becomes is in their hands. It stands to reason, then, that teachers are the ones who set the success of our nation in motion. Teachers are the ones who give students the jumpstart they need towards a successful life. In order to create a better tomorrow, teachers must give students the opportunity to discover knowledge today. With the assistance of proper education, childrens minds will thrive on the knowledge necessary to fulfill each and every one of their dreams. I acknowledge that the success of the student is directly correlated with the quality of the education that they receive. Therefore, each student deserves to be taught only by the highest qualified teachers. It will be my duty to lead the students, while providing them with opportunities to discover knowledge for themselves through a combination of hands-on work and a curriculum that reflects the individual interests in the classroom.

The Role of the Teacher in the Classroom

Just as the general success of the student is directly correlated with the quality of their education, an encouraging atmosphere is directly connected to the students success in the classroom. The teachers role is to create a comfortable learning environment in order to guide the students in their search for knowledge. It is the teachers responsibility to encourage them to formulate their own opinions while providing them with the education necessary for achievement in life. The teacher must supply the students with the tools necessary to discover themselves and their own knowledge. She must also teach the students to be open to sharing ideas and become respectful of themselves and of others. By teaching the students to embrace and respect their differences, the teacher will create the best possible setting to encourage an open learning that is unrestricted by the opinions of others. The teacher needs to understand that diversity can be an asset in the classroom. She must use students diverse backgrounds in a way that makes them more knowledgeable of all the cultures present in the world around them. Exposure to these different cultures will assist in making students into well-rounded individuals that can work collaboratively with others.

How Students Learn Best

It is undeniable that all students are capable of learning. Although everyone has the ability to be taught, each student learns at different rates and in different styles. I believe that it is my responsibility to recognize any struggles in the classroom and to resolve them. Therefore, I must come prepared with many different teaching methods so that each student

has the ability to learn the material. I believe that students learn best when they discover information for themselves through the guidance of a teacher. My curriculum will be based on this ideal; students will learn through hands-on activities and discussions to reinforce the lesson. They will work together to establish and strengthen their problem-solving skills and their abilities to work as a group. Students also learn best when the information is relevant to their own lives. Perhaps this is why it is so important to involve family and community in the learning process. Teachers should provide numerous opportunities to get parents to participate in the classroom, whether it be by conducting read-alouds or providing an extra pair of helping hands for the teacher. Students are thrilled when their parents play a role in their education. As a result, they will learn more than they would have if the information were completely irrelevant to their own lives.

Qualities of an Effective Teacher

I believe that teachers owe it to their students to teach to the highest standards. To do this, they must possess many qualities. A teacher must be extremely knowledgeable of class content, her students, and demographics. She must be a flexible, life-long learner, willing to adjust to constant changes in the classroom and curriculum. The teacher must always be respectful. Students often look up to their teachers as role models, so a teacher must present themselves with only the positive qualities that she would want the students to possess. While the students look up to the teacher, it is also important to be relatable to the students so they feel comfortable in the learning environment. I believe that showing interest in the students lives outside of class is key in relating with the students. The most important quality a teacher must possess is patience so that the student will not become discouraged when they do not understand certain material.

The Purpose of Assessments and Classroom Discipline

Teachers, as well as the Board of Education and the educational government, rely on assessments to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the students in their classroom. The tests also show whether or not a teacher is doing their job by going assessing the students understanding of the standards assigned to each grade level. Although I do not believe testing should be the only evidence students provide of their learning, I do believe that assessments can be used in formative and summative ways in the classroom. Pretests enable teachers to see what needs to be taught before introducing a new standard. Posttests can show what students understand and what topics need to be retaught before continuing on in the curriculum. Teachers should try and mix assessment-based and project-based samples of learning so that students of different learning styles all have the ability for achievement in the classroom.

Discipline is necessary to create a positive learning environment. If the students are allowed to do whatsoever they wish, other students will be distracted in their learning. On the other hand, too restrictive of an environment could stifle learning. Teachers must be able to find a happy medium where students are engaged in learning while not being out of control. That way, every student student will have the ability to reach their fullest potential without any restrictions.

My Goals
As a teacher, I believe that it is my responsibility to open the minds of each student. Once their minds are opened, I will be able to lead them to all of the resources necessary to expand their knowledge. My personal goal is to see each and every one of my students grow from the point that they were at when they entered my classroom for the first time. Given the fact that each student learns differently, I will find methods of teaching that will encourage each child to work to the best of their ability. I understand each student comes from a different background and it is my goal to direct the classroom as they embrace each others differences and learn from them. I will establish a form of learning that the students find enjoyable. It is not my responsibility to preach to the children, but to open doors for them and provide the resources necessary to feed their desire to learn. I will treat the students as my equal and respect them. The students will learn how to respect themselves and others as a result of the respect that I have shown.

Commitment to Life-Long Learning

Many individuals complete their 18 to 22 years of education and celebrate the fact that they have learned what they need to in order to succeed in life. Although they may have obtained enough knowledge to begin a career, they are not anywhere near having completed their learning. In order to grow in life, people must be willing to increase their knowledge through what is known as life-long learning. They must continue to expand the minds by filling it with new thoughts and ideas. If people become content with what they already know, it is likely that they will be unable to progress further from that point. The most influential way to promote life-long learning is to begin in elementary school. A teacher can show students how fulfilling learning new ideas can be. She can provide students with the means to discover their own knowledge so that they can continue to do so when they no longer have a teacher to guide them. Most importantly, a teacher can act as an example of lifelong learning for her students. She can show them that she is still in the process of learning what she needs to in order to be a better teacher and a more knowledgeable individual. It is important for teachers to be life-long practitioners. She must be willing to look at what is and is not working in her classroom. Then, she can use her

observations and research to learn better ways to address the needs of her students. Leading by example not only give students the opportunity to see what life-long learning looks like, but also lends way to teachers enhancing her practices in a way that benefits her students.