Purpose of Education

Education exists to provide students with basic knowledge in all areas, both academic and
non-academic subjects. Education prepares students to become successful well-rounded
individuals who can contribute to our society. We educate children to provide them with
extensive knowledge and resources to become productive members of society. In 2009 the
Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were produced to ensure that all students, nationwide, are
college bound and career set. CCSS purpose is to guarantee all students are given access to equal
opportunities. Students assume responsibilities in school preparing them for the real world. They
learn to share, socialize, and become holistic healthy individuals. We want students to
understand that obtaining an education will provide limitless opportunities. Through constant
perseverance of an education, an individual has limitless possibilities.
Learning Environment
Children learn best in an environment that is safe and positive. It is crucial for teachers to
consistently maintain a welcoming environment that is accessible. Students need to feel
accepted, equal, and able to openly express themselves. According to Jere Brophy (1987), a
leading researcher on student motivation and effective teaching found that students motivation
to learn is an acquired competence developed through general experience but stimulated most
directly through modeling, communication of expectations, and direct instruction. When
teachers have structure and create effective planning this will support students level of learning.
Teachers need to understand that students may not have a safe environment at home or within
their community. School should be a safe haven where children come to progress and strive for
success. When children are presented with secure and encouraging environment learning

becomes enjoyable. According to Abraham Maslow, the creator the hierarchy of needs, believed
that safety and security are the second most important tier. Students learn best from their peers.
This is why teachers pair up students or designate small groups. Robert Slavin, David & Roger
Johnson (1994) are three popular individuals who proposed cooperative learning to be most
effective in the classroom. They claimed students need to verbally interact amongst themselves
in order to increase understanding and retention. Students are able to explore, investigate, and
learn from one another. I will use methods such as think pair share, buddy system, and
collaborative groups in my classroom. This allows students to build relationships, learn from one
another, and formulate and understanding. Children learn best when they are encouraged and
reassured that no task is too difficult. My ideal classroom environment will provide students with
constant reinforcement, praise, and support. Empowering my students to strive and never give up
will encourage my students. This will provide them with high self-efficacy resulting in their
ability to challenge any obstacle.
Commitment to Social Justice
All students are from different economic, ethnic, and social backgrounds and should be
treated equally with one commonality; that every student has the right to receive an education.
School is a place where students should be accepted and offered the same opportunities. Part of
addressing diversity in the classroom is introducing and embracing other cultures. This can be
implemented by teaching history, literature, and exploring different traditions. I will teach my
students that we are all humans with feelings and this is what makes us all equal and alike. I will
emphasize the importance of respecting one another. Teachers need to adjust their lesson plans to
grasp every different type of learner. Richard Mayer, a professor of psychology, found that
graphic organizers and visual frameworks should be used when introducing new content. I will

offer my students visual aids, posters, templates, songs, and samples to help facilitate a better
understanding. I will address all my students by ensuring they comprehend and understand the
material taught. One method to help check for an understanding is the five E Learning Cycle
(Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, and Evaluation). Another method is asking
students to raise their hand or show me with thumbs up if they understand the steps shown. I can
also use exit slips for my class which will show me which students understand the concept and
which students need more help. It is imperative I treat all my students equally and always check
for an understanding to avoid students from falling behind.
Curriculum
Teaching requires constant planning, implementation, and willingness to improve. The Common
Core State Standards (CCSS) are great guidelines to refer to and follow. The CCSS stands as the
key to increase childrens critical and cognitive thinking. An effective teacher must constantly
introduce new material enthusiastically and connect it to previously learned material. According
to Barak Rosenshine, prior learning should be periodically reviewed in order to promote skills
and increase retention. If students are continuously exposed and drawing connections to
concepts, they will easily understand and retain curriculum taught. I will introduce new
curriculum in more than one method to ensure I reach all different types of learners. These
different types of learners include auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners. I can use
manipulatives, songs/phrases, and visual aids to promote learning. Encouraging my students
daily to ask questions will promote self-reliance. I will stress to my students that I am here to
help them and to use me as a resource. All subjects should be taught in a way that students can
relate, to increase their understanding. For example, Jean Piaget and John Dewey believed that
learning needs to relate to the lives and experiences of students. Doing so will help students

understand material more easily. Once curriculum has been introduced, students should perform
a task or activity to increase and retain their understanding. Learning two subjects dually like
history and literature through reading or acting can incorporate both a history lesson and
literature lesson. For example, incorporating mathematics into a physical education lesson allows
students to engage in a fun environment while academically learning material. For smaller
children you can ask to use their body to make different shapes. While running the mile in
physical education students can calculate their average time. Various subjects can be intertwined
to increase students critical level of thinking. This will also make learning fun and students will
retain information more easily because students learn through performance.
Teacher
Effective teachers are constantly developing, planning, and improving their teaching
strategies. Valuable teachers critique themselves and ask themselves what they need to improve
on if they note students are not grasping content. Teaching is a field where many studies,
research, and methods are replaced and introduced. It is a teachers duty to remain up to date
with new effective strategies and implement these into their classroom or lesson plans. Every
school offers professional development, trainings, and feedback from other teachers. Teachers
need to take advantage of these opportunities to enhance their resources and ability to teach
students. As a future educator, I will be sure to convey the curriculum in a way that all students
will absorb and understand. More importantly I will communicate with my students asking them
what they like, and what is needed of me in order to teach effectively. Being open to suggestions
allows me to understand every type of learner. According to Linda Alston (2008), our teaching
makes a difference for children and their families (pg. 49). She also stated that we need to
accommodate to our students needs and reflect on our style of teaching and its significance.

Teaching is like a cycle we must continuously learn, improve, and grow from. Having an open
mind and learning from my mistakes will allow me to cater to my students needs. My students
are my best critiques and from their feedback and understanding I can become an effective
teacher.

Leslie Garcia
Philosophy of Education
LBS 400
Professor Schreiber
October 27, 2014