Philosophy of Education Diana Stanley

Education has always been a very important part of my life, and caring hard-working teachers

have helped me develop and understand my own philosophy of education. The way we manage our

classrooms and teach our curriculum not only helps our students learn the subjects, but can help them

develop their own interests and strengths that they can successfully utilize in their future. My

philosophy of education encompasses the important characteristics of discipline, motivation, curiosity,

respect, and responsibility within all aspects of school. By using and instilling these characteristics in my

own classroom, I would create an environment conducive to learning, sharing new ideas, and facing

challenges in and out of the classroom.

Discipline is an important aspect within my philosophy of education because it affects every

person throughout their lives. I need to have a well-managed classroom to create a safe and enjoyable

learning environment. This means that I need to consider the space I have to work in, an understanding

of my students and their basic needs, the proper tools needed to maintain an effective classroom, and

the resources that are available to me and my students. However, discipline is not only about managing

my classroom as a whole, but helping my students to develop their own self-discipline. I want my

students to understand that self-discipline takes time and work, but with practice they can apply

themselves within any subject in school and use this learned skill throughout their lives.

Motivation and curiosity are two other extremely important pieces that I incorporate within my

teaching. I need to motivate my students and instill a sense of curiosity if I want to be an effective

educator. I believe that experiential education, where students are able to learn by doing, is one of the

best ways to teach and learn. Students can engage with their environment, peers, and community, and

this can be a huge motivating factor that can help them develop a curious mindset ready to learn and

grow. As an educator, I would use my knowledge in outdoor and environmental education and place-

based learning to set high standards that would challenge and motivate my students and help them

develop their sense of curiosity.

 Philosophy of Education Diana Stanley

Respect is an important characteristic that can help students succeed in and out of school.

Having respect for themselves, their environment, and other people can help students and teachers

maintain a positive relationship and work together to achieve their goals. By having a positive

relationship and maintaining open lines of communication, I can learn how to best help and support my

students. I would start by ensuring I understand the learning development for the age I am working

with, and then getting to know my students and the class dynamics as a whole. l believe that having a

respect for the learning process is also very important for students to understand. School can and

should be appropriately challenging, however, by helping students understand themselves and their

own learning process they can be ready to face these challenges.

Being responsible in and out of school is something students will need in order to be successful

in our society. In school, I would expect my students to be responsible for themselves, their actions and

decisions, and their education. This means that I would set high expectations and standards for my

students, and I would want them to do their best meeting their goals by understanding themselves and

advocating for what they need to succeed. I would also model responsible behavior and ensure that the

expectations I lay out for my students are clear and developmentally appropriate. I want to help instill

an understanding that responsibility can have a significant factor in the way a person performs

academically as well as in other aspects of life.

Through the utilization of the factors listed above, I would create a classroom that is physically

conducive to learning, developmentally appropriate and challenging for my students, and has a

welcoming atmosphere that would encourage dialog and participation. I want my students to be

lifelong learners that take the skills and knowledge they have acquired and apply them throughout

various aspects of their lives.

 Philosophy of Education Diana Stanley

Works Cited

1) Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, (2012). Guide to Implementing the
Alaska Cultural Standards for Educators. 1-54.

2) Charles, C.M. (2011). Building Classroom Discipline. 10th ed. Allyn & Bacon.

3) Fields, M.V.; Fields, D.M.; Meritt, P.A. (2014). Constructive Guidance and Discipline: Birth to
Age Eight. 6th ed. Boston: Pearson.

4) Jensen, E. (2009). Schoolwide success factors. Teaching with poverty in mind: what being poor does
to kids brains and what schools can do about it (66-105) Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

5) Jensen, E. (2013). Engaging students with poverty in mind: practical strategies for raising
achievement. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

6) Johnston, P. H. (2012). Opening minds: Using language to change lives. Portland, Me.: Stenhouse.

7) Lemov, D. (2010). Teach like a champion: 49 techniques that put students on the path to college.
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

8) Louv, R. (2005). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Chapel
Hill, NC: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill.

9) Miller, D. (2008). Teaching with intention: Defining beliefs, aligning practice, taking action: K-5.
Portland, Me.: Stenhouse.

10) Smith, G. A., & Sobel, D. (2010). Place- and community-based education in schools. New York, NY:
Routledge.

11) Taylor, C.S.; Nolan, S.B. (2008). Classroom Assessment: Supporting Teaching and Learning in Real
Classrooms. Upper Saddle River, NJ: 2nd ed. Pearson/Merrill/Prentice Hall.

12) Tomlinson, C.A. (2014). Differentiated Classrooms: Responding to the Needs of All Learners. 2nd ed.
ASCD.

13) Tough, P. (2013). How to build character. How children succeed: Grit, curiosity, and the hidden
power of character (49-104) Boston: Mariner Books.