Philosophy of Education for Amy Jurica Hinnant

Having worked in schools for 22 years, my philosophy about what helps children learn
best has evolved many times. As a fresh out-of college-graduate teaching elementary aged
children, I felt I had to be in control of everything and a good student was one that was
attentive and quiet. When I became a mother after teaching for six years, my philosophy evolved
again to see a child as a whole person and not just a student in my class. I eventually found my
way into teaching in the early childhood setting and have spent the last 14 years teaching and
working with children under the age of five. I see young children as very capable and curious.
They are natural learners! They crave learning! I no longer see children as blank slates that
need to be filled by me. I now see each child as possessing a unique set of skills that I need to
help develop and grow. It is my belief that each student has a different learning style and
multiple intelligences. Teachers must include structured learning opportunities as well as open-
end.
Working as the director of the preschool for the past six years, I have had the ability to
shape the culture and climate of not just a single classroom, but an entire school. Three areas of
importance come to mind when thinking of my philosophy of early childhood education. First,
I know that promoting developmentally appropriate environments and activities plays a huge part
in the success of early learning. I also believe that engaging families and building coalitions with
the community are very important in any educational setting. Thirdly, I believe that high quality
teaching both in personnel and curriculum foster childrens learning and development.
The final component of my philosophy in education is about meeting a variety of needs.
As mentioned previously, each child is different. Addressing the special needs of all children, as
well as embracing the diversity of cultures is pivotal in creating a warm and welcoming
environment for learning. I think teachers and administrators must seek out ways to make all
learners, families and any other stakeholders in the school, feel included and validated. My
educational philosophy has evolved over the years and I hope will continue to evolve. After all,
a true educator is a life-long learner and must continue to incorporate the best practices in her
philosophy.