Philosophy of Education

Education is complex; teaching is a calling. It is more than teaching students basic

skills, but it is teaching students problem solving skills that will be useful in their
lives and futures. The teacher has the responsibility of teaching and reaching all
students minds, but most importantly teachers must open and touch their hearts
and spirits to learning. Teachers who do not adapt to all their students needs do not
belong in the classroom. I believe all students are capable of learning and should be
treated as individuals in the classroom. Teachers are with the students throughout
the school day, but the parents and families of the students need to be involved and
supportive of the students education. My philosophy of education consists of
treating students equally and individually, practicing the full art of teaching, and
working with the parents and families of students to give the students an effective
education.
I believe all students can learn. Teachers have the opportunity to positively impact
students who struggle to achieve and succeed academically. When students are
performing below grade level, they often lack motivation and self-esteem. As the
teacher, it is my responsibility to meet the students where they are academically
and emotionally, and to develop an individualized instruction to meet their unique
educational needs. I will use various strategies and approaches in order to reach
every student. These different methods of teaching will help reach the different
types of learners: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Incorporating various methods in
my teaching will create a stimulating yet fun environment to help the students
succeed. Regardless of the grade I teach, I will include hands-on, technology based,
cooperative learning groups, and group discussion activities in my lessons. All
students are different, so I will allow them the opportunity of expressing themselves
in various ways, such as projects, journaling, and portfolios.
The school day averages about eight hours a day, which is only one third of a days
time. Therefore, teachers spend one third of the day with the students, but parents
and families spend the other sixteen hours or two thirds of the day. In order for
students to be successful in school, the families need to be involved in their
education. It is my responsibility as the teacher to keep my parents informed with
their childs performance in class, but it is the responsibility of the parents to work
with and help me in enforcing that the students complete their at home
assignments. Effective communication amongst me and the parents is imperative
for the academic success of students. I will need to update the parents with the
progress of the students and notify the parents of what is being taught so they can
reinforce that information at home. The teacher-parent relationship is a must in
regards to the students academic success.
Students are intricate individuals, who need to be dealt with care. Regardless of the
students discipline record or achievement history, the teacher must be patient,
kind, and gentle. I plan to work diligently to boost their self-esteem and lesson the

gap amongst different levels of students. By creating a caring, but structured

classroom environment and implementing positive classroom management
strategies, I will ensure my students are learning and feeling successful. It is
imperative for the teacher to make a connection with each child; because once they
realize that the teacher cares about them and likes them, they work harder to learn
for that teacher. Having a positive attitude with students is also a necessity in the
classroom because the students behavior is a direct reflection of the teachers
attitude.
Teaching is an occupation, where there is constant change and evolution, and I plan
to adapt and learn just like the students. Being flexible is a very important
characteristic that teachers should attain. I plan to create an environment for
students to think beyond the textbook, in hopes of expanding their outlook on the
world. Overall, I believe to be an effective teacher, the classroom must have order,
positivity, diversity, various methods, different activities, and a purpose.