Philosophy of Education

It is an educators responsibility to prepare each student that walks through their door to become
successful individuals later in their educational career, as well as when they step out into the world. As an
educator, it is important to value the social and emotional development of the students who are walking
into the classroom to help them become successful citizens. While it is crucial that teachers are helping
students to grow academically, it is also very impactful to help students develop socially and emotionally,
focusing on self-awareness and management, relationship skills, social awareness, and responsible
decision making. When educators design a curriculum that integrates these skills, they are working to
develop individuals who are responsible, empathetic towards others, and effective communicators. These
skills are not only setting learners up for success during their academic career, they are effectively
preparing students for life after school. Integrating social and emotional skills into the classroom is
important to develop students into well rounded, caring individuals.
To be an effective educator, it is imperative that teachers are instilling a sense of curiosity in their
students. Students should be encouraged to push themselves and question the world around them. To do
this, a teacher must demonstrate this curiosity and passion for not only teaching, but learning as well. If a
teacher's goal is to create lifelong learners, the best way to do so is to be a lifelong learner. Successful
educators are reflective, as they constantly look into their practice and ask themselves How can I improve
this for my students. Effective educators demonstrate lifelong learning as they seek opportunities to
improve their practice, in the form of books, online resources, professional presentations, or student
feedback.
Educators are responsible for receiving each student into their classroom with welcoming arms.
Creating a classroom where learners feel safe is crucial for creating a successful learning environment
where all students are able to reach their full potential. The first step in creating a safe classroom is to
build strong, meaningful relationships with each student in the classroom in the form of teacher/student,
student/student, and teacher/family. Building relationships within the classroom develops a sense of
community, a place where students feel appreciated and their lives and ideas validated. By validating the
learners in the classroom and giving each student the tools they need to succeed, educators are able to
empower their students to strive for excellence.
A positive learning experience begins with a caring and competent educator. This is
demonstrated by creating a responsive classroom community, with a teacher that treats each individual
equitably, providing resources to allow all learners to access the information presented to them and
enabling those individuals to achieve at high levels.

H. Estabrook 1