Aleksandra Peric

3809997

MY EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
As an educator, I believe that every child is equally deserving of an education comprised
of endless opportunities and enriching experiences. I will strive to support the learning
and development of every child in all areas of their education and aim to provide them
with a sense of identity and belonging within a welcoming, safe and engaging classroom
environment at all times. I place a very large emphasis on the concept of diversity within
my own personal teaching practice as were living in a wide spread community
containing people from various different linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic
backgrounds. Lev Vygotskys theories are reflected within my teaching practice as he
believed that the natural world is filled with a diversity of colour and shape and it is the
educators responsibility to provide sensory experiences as a way of exposing children
to diversity of the world they are immersed in (Dolya 2009).
According to Ainscow (2004), inclusion is a never-ending search to discover a more
effective way of responding to diversity and as an educator, I believe that the diverse
population must be recognized in order to value and respect each and every child as
well as their families and culture, as equality and a sense of belonging is crucial during a
childs early childhood and primary years. I will incorporate the physical, mental,
emotional and social needs of each and every child into my inclusive teaching practice
by welcoming and involving families into the learning and development of their children.
I will remain passionate and strive to create a consistently safe and comfortable
educational setting in which the children will feel secure and trusting enough to ask
questions, discuss inquiries and share their own thoughts, opinions and ideas with
myself and their peers. I support Churchills (2011) theory that open ended questions
posed by the teacher refine their students thinking, encourage reasoning and stimulate
discussion (p164).
My perception of an educator and personal pedagogy is ever-changing as I am
continuously learning and extending my own emergent philosophy. Piaget believed that
Aleksandra Peric
3809997

an adult can support a childs learning by providing them with a rich and stimulating
environment where constant interaction with child and adult is not essential (Smidt
2010). I implement this belief by providing the student with verbal as well as non-verbal
communication within the classroom to instill a sense of responsibility within them and
to encourage them to make logical and thoughtful decisions regarding their education
and wellbeing. According to Piaget, children are active contributors to their own
development and this is apparent when children are most engaged when they are
interested in the topic being discussed (Berk 2010). I will continue to observe students
development, learning and behavior in order to develop my own planning strategies for
the planning of effective and enriching experiences and lessons.
I incorporate my belief that by providing children with activities which relate to their
home life can create a comforting and inviting environment for children, where they feel
safe and can be immersed and engaged in their learning and development. I believe that
every child learns in their own unique way and I will strive to facilitate the learning and
development of each child. Howard Gardner believed that there were seven different
types of human intelligence (Multiple Intelligences 2004, p1) and that each person has
one or two dominant intelligences. I will support this theory of multiple intelligences by
fostering the individual learning styles and needs of my students in order to promote
the development and learning of each and every child.
As an educator, I will strive to promote diversity amongst my students and instill a sense
of community, identity and belonging throughout my classroom whilst maintaining a
safe and welcoming environment for all children and their families. I will integrate
various theoretical approaches into my teaching practice in order to continue
developing my own personal and professional learning as well as supporting the
learning and development of all children. I will always maintain a passionate and
professional approach towards teaching and develop my own professional practice by
continuing to place emphasis on the importance of early education as well as the
learning and development of every child.