Running head: PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Philosophy of Education
Dr. Belete Mebratu
Miranda Laufman
10117888
Medaille College
ECI 610 Roots to Present
July 26, 2015

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Education is very important. I was always told that holding an education is the most important thing.
Therefore, I have always strived to work hard and build on past experiences. Not everyone is fortunate to
have an education, and be able to go to school. It is not something we should take for granted, and
working with students and others children is one of the most important jobs. I am very fortunate to have
had all of my experiences both as a student and as an educator. I would not change the approaches I have
made, but I can only learn from them to improve the love I have for education.

The School
My philosophy on what the role of the school should be is one that is inviting to the students. The school
needs to come together as a group, and make all members feel welcome, safe and respected. These goals
would assist students in their social interactions too. For students, school is their second home. I believe it
needs to be a place where students want to learn, develop friendships, and most importantly be themselves.
A school should also be adaptable and flexible. Changes in society are always taking place, and the role of
the school is to be up-to-date on these changes.

The Curriculum
I believe that the curriculum is always changing. It is different from when I was in elementary school, and it
will be different again when I become a full-time educator. A few approaches I decided to focus on were
approaches I discovered in my Early Childhood Education Program. These approaches include, Reggio
Emilia, Montessori and Waldorf.
The Reggio Emilia approach focuses on children in preschool and primary education. A man named Loris
Malaguzzi, who was also a teacher, developed the Reggio Emilia approach. The aim of this approach is,
teaching how to make children useful in everyday life (Hewitt, 2001). The program is based on the
principles of respect, responsibility, and community through exploration and discovery in a supportive and

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enriching environment based on the interests of the children through a self-guided curriculum (Hewitt,
2001).
The second approach is known as Montessori. A woman named Maria Montessori, who was an Italian
physician and educator, developed this form of curriculum and learning. There was an emphasis put on,
independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a childs psychological, physical and social
development (Lillard, 2011).
The third and final approach is known as Waldorf education. An Australian philosopher by the name of
Rudolf Steiner was the founder of anthroposophy and more specifically Waldorf education. The pedagogy
emphasizes the role of imagination in learning, striving to integrate holistically the intellectual, practical,
and artistic development of individuals (Gidseg, 2008). It is important to follow the curriculum, but to meet
the needs of the students in your classroom. The curriculum has changed from the past to the present, and it
will continue to look at new approaches in the future.

Learning
Learning experiences are very important. My philosophy of learning, and education in general, is that it
challenges us to learn new ways to do something. Learning for students can occur in various forms. Students
can learn through hands-on and play experiences. All students learn in their own unique style. By giving them
opportunities to explore something new, and bring creative ideas out is one way they will further their
knowledge. Another way learning can occur is through individual and group work. As an educator, it is
important to foster this learning because students need to learn how to work in a group setting, but also on their
own. When students have time to work together they build connections amongst one another, and maybe look
at something in a whole new way.

Our world today is almost run by technology. As educators, the children in our classrooms are going to be the
future, and technology is the present, and will be the norm in the future. We need to give students opportunities

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to interact with technology in a positive way, and to integrate this learning in our lessons. Lastly, we live in a
society that is multicultural. In our classrooms, we will have students from all cultural backgrounds. We will
also have students with disabilities. It is important that we incorporate various forms of learning with all
students in mind. We need to reach out to all of our students, and by introducing traditions and new ways to
approach learning will make it more interesting for them.

The Learner
We all learn in different ways. Some students learn better in a quiet environment while some adapt to a loud
environment. As an educator, we need to keep in mind that lessons we deliver need to meet all students in the
classroom. The students, as the learners do have expectations of their own. They are expected to come to class
prepared to learn about a subject, a specific topic that is in a particular unit. As educators we need to develop
ways that our students can learn, and continue to learn new material. The students need to be engaged and
motivated to learn or you will lose their interest quickly.

Over the five years I have had experience in the profession I have come to realize that young children are very
smart. I do not believe it is correct to underestimate what a child is capable of learning at any age. As a
Registered Early Childhood Educator, I have learned that the critical years of a child are from birth to six years
of age. Children learn through various developmental stages. Some of these stages are behavioral cognitive,
intellectual, social and find and gross motor development. One way they learn a lot of new information is
through social interactions, and it is important for them to be immersed in social settings. When children are
given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and knowledge they will want to succeed. It is important to
let children learn new ideas in their own comfort zone. I believe this is what matters to the child, and knowing
that as educators we recognize this is important.

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Assessment
The purpose of assessment is for the educator to see if the student or groups of students are understanding the
subject, and more specifically the content. It is the role of the educator to provide different forms of assessment.
This can be through the use of reading and writing assignments, manipulatives, group work, and real-life
experiences. It is important to assess students in a different manner to be meeting all of their needs. The reason
for assessing a student is not just to understand if they are grasping the material, but it is a good way for the
educator to know what changes they need to change in their delivery of the lesson. There are always going to be
ways to improve on assessment, and once you get to know your students you will know which methods are
working for them.

Classroom Management
As an educator, I believe that in order to instill proper classroom management you need to know your students.
You are the leader in the room, and students want to feel that they can approach the educator in the classroom.
However, you do need to take charge, and should set classroom expectations on the first day of school. These
rules should be posted in the classroom throughout the school year. This way you can refer back to them when
need be. It is also important to set boundaries for the classroom. If you let the students assist in this process,
especially those in older elementary grades, you will notice a difference in learning outcomes. As the educator,
you need to have various workspaces and learning environments set-up in the classroom. You want the
classroom to be accessible and inviting for everyone. Lastly, I feel it is important to be posting the students
work in the classroom. If students see that their work is being used as a demonstration in the classroom, it will
make them feel valued. This does not mean that only certain work goes up on the walls. All students take pride
in their work, and want to see what they have put their effort and time into up in the classroom. This will add to
the classroom being a positive place to learn, and students will want to be there.

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The Teacher
My educational goal has always been to teach. I have always enjoyed helping others, and in return I get the
feeling of immense satisfaction. I am very driven and focused to become a teacher, and I am fortunate to have
had related teaching experiences thus far. By having over five years of experience, growth as an educator has
led me to believe being in the classroom is where I want to continue to be. I am particularly fond of being with
young children in the primary grades. Most of my experience has been with children in childcare centers and
elementary schools. Children at this age look up to their teachers, and being able to assist them with daily
routines and classroom expectations is what gives me that feeling of reward. This encourages me to be a better
educator, and to remember to keep the childrens needs above my own.

The teacher in the classroom should be flexible, and taking the time to get to know all of the students. This can
be difficult when you have a classroom of almost thirty students. It is the job of the teacher to be able to meet
the needs of all the students. This puts a lot of pressure on the teacher, but in the end I know I would feel better
knowing that I was able to assist all of my students, and made a difference for all of them rather than just a
select few. No one said that this profession is easy, but it does come with great rewards. Anyone can be a
teacher. It takes effort, dedication and pride in the profession to be a great teacher!

In conclusion, education is constantly evolving. It will be our role as an educator to keep up with current
situations that are happening, but to reflect on past experiences. These past experiences will support us to better
our current practice as well as future expectations. Education is something that should be valued. It is our role
as an educator to provide our students with opportunities in the classroom that will better themselves, and boost
their confidence. We need students to know that we want them to be the best they can be both in the classroom,
and out in the world as a whole.

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References
Gidseg, Eric (2008). Waldorf education. In Moncrieff Cochran and Rebecca S. New (eds.), Early Childhood
Education An International Encyclopedia, v. ISBN 0-313-34143-5 833-835.
Hewitt, Valerie (2001). Examining the Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education. Early
Childhood Education Journal 29 (2): 95-10.
Lillard, Paula Polk (2011). Examining the Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education.
Montessori Today: A Comprehensive Approach to Education from Birth to Adulthood Knopf Doubleday
Publishing Group 22. ISBN 978-0-307-76132-3.