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UED 496 Educational Beliefs Paper

Angela Tortora
Regent University

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Introduction
I believe that the education of children is important because these individuals comprise
our future generation. Since I am the facilitator of information, I recognize I have an important
role in the lives of these children. For this reason, I will incorporate learning strategies,
classroom arrangement, and classroom management strategies into my classroom so that my
students can reach their full potential.
Beliefs about the purpose of education
Education is a very important aspect of society. Without education, our society would not
possess the necessary skills for entering into adulthood. Elementary education is a process of
preparing students for their futures. It is a building block upon which they learn basic, yet
important skills such as academic as well as social and behavioral skills. It is important to teach a
child the basics of reading and writing, as well as how to behave, because these teachings will
mold the child into a responsible citizen.
Instructional Strategies used in the Classroom
When I teach, I plan to implement instructional strategies that engage the interest of my
students. Instead of lecturing for a great length of time, I will incorporate small group activities.
These small group activities will foster a sense of community within the group and allow
students to work together. It is important for students to build this sense of community and trust
among the group.
I strongly believe in differentiating instruction because students learn at different levels.
This will require more time and effort from me, but I believe the rewards of differentiating
instruction are worth the extra work. Because students have different ways of learning, such as

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visual, kinesthetic, and audio, I will have centers set up in my room that will cater to these
differing learning styles.
Because I strongly believe in differentiation, I will assign homework assignments that
will work with my students strengths. According to Ronald Partin (2009), Homework, like any
other instructional technique, is only a means to an end. Its value is determined by how
effectively it enhances learning (p.161). Instead of giving my students what may be considered
busy work, I will give them assignments that interest them. I will take into account the
different learning styles and plan the students assignments accordingly.
Instructional strategies are highly crucial for the smooth flow of a classroom. They can be
used to encourage students to engage one another in conversation about a topic, let a teacher
know if the students understood the lesson, or help students arrange their thoughts. There are
strategies about how to ask essential questions so that the teacher can help students think on a
deeper level.
During my time in college, I have learned various strategies for instruction that I will
implement into the classroom. One that I love is the concept maps. I think it is a creative way for
students to jot down their ideas and actually see how the ideas are interconnected. Exit tickets are
another excellent strategy because I can use them to ask my students to write down what they
learned and a question about the lesson. If some of my students are unclear about the lesson, I
can use that information to either reteach the lesson or work with those students individually.
Another instructional strategy I have learned from one of my classes at Regent is called a KWL
chart, which can be used to access the prior knowledge of students and help them apply that
information in order to gain a deeper understanding. It helps students gain clarity about their

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possible misconceptions. It is also beneficial because it helps me, as the teacher, to understand
how well my students grasped a concept.
Classroom Arrangement
Classroom arrangement is of vital importance. I will set my room up in such a way that
my students will be able to access materials and to see me and the board clearly. According to
the article, Five Keys to Good Room Arrangement, one of the tips for a good room
arrangement is to [u]se a room arrangement consistent with your instructional goals and
activities. For instance, Ronald Partin (2009) asserts seating students in clusters or around a
table facilitates group interaction (p. 3). I want to incorporate group interaction in my
classroom; for this reason, I will set my room up according to the way Partin suggests.
During my time as a student teacher, I have realized how important it is to arrange the
classroom so that it is accessible for the students to get to the materials, as well as for me to walk
around to observe what my students are doing. I need to set up the tables for the students in a
way that allows me to be able to watch their behaviors so that a behavioral issue does not arise. It
is also important for the students to be able to see the interactive whiteboard so that it promotes
engagement with all of the students.
Classroom Management
According to Dr. Bill Ziegler, Strong classroom management is one of the keys to
learning. Students need to feel safe and secure to share, grow, risk, and learn. Dr. Ziegler lists
five keys to maintaining good classroom management. He mentions that teachers need to build
relationships with students, which will foster trust between the students and teacher. When a
teacher clearly states his or her expectations about assignments or class activities, the students

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will be able to smoothly go through their activities. Continuous learning is also a key ingredient
to a smooth classroom. When there are no activities for students or long stretches in between
activities, students will become restless and misbehave. Respecting a student and believing in
him or her will go a long way. I plan to implement all of these techniques in my classroom in
order for it to run smoothly.
At the beginning of my time as a student teacher, I allowed my students to collaborate on
a list of classroom rules and consequences. Because I had the students sign the posters, I held
them to a high standard. When they broke the rules, they already knew what the consequences
were going to be because they came up with the rules and consequences. Children need structure.
Providing them with rules and consequences helps them have structure in their lives. Many of
my students during my student teaching experiences came from difficult home lives where it was
apparent there was no structure. In order to instruct students, structure is highly important.
I believe all students are different. One discipline technique will not work for all of the
students. I have also learned that what might work one day with a child might not work the next
day. As for disciplining students, I believe the best way to do so is to get to know each student so
that I can know how to best approach a behavioral problem. I will then decide how to best
discipline the student.
Conclusion
Education is a profession which requires much determination and patience. I realize that
teaching is going to have its challenges, but it is rewarding. I love helping students reach that
aha moment, in which they finally understand a concept. I will give my best to my students as

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we journey through the school year. I am determined to help my students attain their absolute
best because I believe that each of them can succeed.

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References
Emmer, Evertson, Clements, & Worsham (1997). Five Keys to Good Room Arrangement.
Retrieved October 27, 2014 http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/di/cresource/howdo-teachers-prepare-their-students-and-their-classrooms-for-differentiatedinstruction/di_10/di_10_link_keys/
Partin, R. (2009). The Classroom Teachers Survival Guide (3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: JosseyBass.
Ziegler, B. Classroom Management. Retrieved October 27, 2014 from www.4tipps.com