Running head: STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS 1

Statement of Informed Beliefs

EmaLee Hamman
Instructor: Evin Fox
EDUC 204: Families, Communities, and Culture
Spring 2014










STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS 2

Statement of Informed Beliefs
Introduction
I have been contemplating my teaching philosophy for a while now, and still feel like I
am not quite married to it yet. Maybe it is because I have not yet taught and the thought of
having some philosophy on something you only know from the outside feels silly. What I do
know is that I love children. The only time I know I am making the right career choice is when I
am in a classroom filled with kids. I walk into the class room and I see everything beautiful
about life. They are filled with questions, energy, and hope. Nothing is better than that.
I hope to use their energy and questions to teach them how to work hard and to question
everything. I want hands raised all the time because if they are asking questions they are thinking
about the curriculum that is being taught. I hope to never crush their hope. I want them to know
that nothing makes for a better student/person than being a hard worker. If someone is a hard
worker then they can conquer anything. I want them to be excited about coming into class and be
even more excited to tell their parents, grandparents, or sibling all the stuff they are learning. I
want the word school to paint a picture of friends, fun learning, and community.
Students Ability to Learn
I think that every child learns differently, and so does every adult. It is important for the
child to understand how he or she learns. When the child knows their learning style the child
can adapt better from teacher to teacher and school to school. Teachers need to be open to
changing things up for certain students that arent learning the material the way that they had
planned on in the beginning. Being able to adapt and make accommodations with every class
will be necessary in order for the students and teacher to have a successful year.
STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS 3

Some kids are going to feel comfortable talking out in class and asking a lot of questions
in their learning process. Others are going to feel much more comfortable sitting and listening.
Then there are kids that need to do something hands-on in order to learn. There is always going
to be a broad range of learning styles in a classroom and every one of those styles is essential to
learning. This is similar to Jean Piagets theory in the Child, Family, School, Community
Socialization and Support book written by Roberta M. Berns it states He viewed the child as an
active learner who explores, experiments, and plans, thereby constructing
knowledge.(Berns,2013) Teacher are required to have adaptation for all the different learning
styles, along with making the student have accountability for their part of learning.
Students Social Ecology Theory
Looking back over my education as a student, it is the teachers that really made an effort
to get to know me that made a huge impact on my learning. Having a teacher that knew my
parents made me feel more accountable for my learning. As a teacher I want to be able to
develop a relationship with not only my students, but with their parents as well. Being able to
know the children and their families will only help with the learning process.
Knowing the students demographics can help teachers tailor their lesson plans, so the
students will be learning about the different cultures of their fellow students. I truly believe that
when we learn about different cultures we also build a respect for them. I think that prejudice
comes from the lack of knowledge. Teachers have the unique opportunity to introduce different
cultures because of their diverse students. Being able to learn about our community and the many
different cultures that are among it, will act as a melting pot. Students from all walks of life will
learn from each other and melt into a new community (classroom) for at least a year.

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS 4

Cultural Diversity Instruction
We are so blessed to be living in this this beautiful country that was founded and built
by immigrants. This is a very diverse country. People hundreds of years ago and still to this day
come to America looking for a better life. So yes we have people from all over the world living
in this beautiful country, but every single person has one thing in common, we all want a better
life. That simple thing we have in common unites us.
In this search of a better life, education is on the check list for many. When I walk into
my sons or daughter classroom I see children from many different countries all wanting an
education. Isnt that great?!?! I think as a teacher it is important to have a cultural pluralism
classroom. This classroom would have mutual appreciation and understanding of all the cultures.
They would be able to coexist with one anothers difference in languages, religion, and
lifestyles. In some ways cultural assimilation will happen. This is where the minority starts
taking on characteristics of the majority culture. Roberta M. Berns discusses Vygotsks theory
stated Children learn the tools of their culture by engaging in activities with expert others.
My favorite way to learn is through my fellow students in my classes. They are a tool in
my learning and just as important as a textbook or a teacher. Being able to listen and learn from
someone that came from a different culture is interesting, fun, and essential in a diverse
classroom. Students need to be able to connect and learn from each other. When this starts
happening in a classroom, it is where the real learning takes place.
Curriculum for All Learners
I stated before that every student learns in a different way. So it also needs to be said that
there is a way to teach all of these ways of learning. With the common core in place, we are
going to be able to unite teachers across the country and learn from all the different teaching
STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS 5

strategies. With the internet at our finger tips we will be able to contact teachers from all over
with questions and ideas with the curriculum. I think that even students that have a hard time
learning will be able to find a way to learn with the resources available to teachers.
I know that every student will not learn from a standard teaching approach, nor will
every student test well with standardized tests. This is where the creativity will need to come
into play every child isnt standard. Every child is a different make and model. I think that being
creative or at least borrowing someone elses creativity is vital in teaching. Students are going to
respond better to the teacher and the material if it is creative. Teachers might have to try many
different ways to teach a student, and this is where the fellow teachers in school or around the
country can help with creative ideas.
Conclusion
I am so excited to become a teacher. I cant wait to build relationship with kids and learn
from them as I teach. I am looking forward to a classroom filled with energy, questions, and
hope. I want every child that leaves my classroom questioning everything they see, excited to
come back to school, and have enough self-confidence to never stop trying to learn.








STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS 6



References:

Berns, R. M. (2010). Child, Family, School, Community Socialation and Support (9thth
ed.).