Bradley D.

Howells

Philosophy of Education

The utmost commitment of an educator is to assist students in perceiving their unique,

individual potential. In order to do this, an educator must be empathetic, for the only way to
assist students in their development is to understand their thoughts and feelings and provide
individualized supports. They must also be conscientious so that they do the right thing for their
students every time, taking the necessary measures to provide ample opportunities for success.
In addition, they must be ambitious. They must give their all in helping students form and reach
goals, never giving up.
I believe that in order to be an empathetic educator, student and family voice must be
heard. Educators must get to personally know their students and families, including their likes,
dislikes, wants, and needs. It is all about conversation and working together as a team. As
educators receive this information, they must provide necessary supports as needed that will
contribute to success both in and out of the classroom. Within the classroom, lessons should be
uniquely personalized to burst connection and personal engagement, and students should work
together in small groups with others of similar ability as much as possible to value teamwork.
I believe that in order to be a conscientious educator, best practice should be valued and
implemented at all times. Overall instruction should be explicit following an “I Do, We Do, You
Do” model so that students may observe new information and practice and then be provided with
time themselves to develop meaning. Lessons should be designed to develop critical thinking and
problem-solving skills as well as growth mindset, demonstrate and explain values and ethics,
integrate technology, and include pre, formative, and summative assessment when appropriate.
During these learning experiences, humor, positivity, and positive reinforcement should be used
as much as possible to lower stress levels and keep the environment healthy.
I believe that in order to be an ambitious teacher, there should be both familiarity and a
set of expectations of students in order to ensure that they are learning. Rules and common
procedures should be measurable as well as posted in the classroom. They will teach students to
follow directions, and adhering to them will assist in keeping the environment organized. With
this brings an element of structure and routine. On a daily basis, a routine should be followed so
that students already have an idea of their expectations and feel a sense of control. Organization
alone is another thing that will reduce elements of stress while providing a greater opportunity of
productivity, and this includes keeping a clean and orderly climate.
As I continuously rely on and implement empathy, conscientiousness, and ambition,
positive rapport with students will continue to grow, and I am determined to have them believe
in themselves and in their abilities. Once students become comfortable and confident of
themselves through lessons designed in this format, they will use the skills they learned to
successfully problem solve, think critically, and most importantly, follow their dreams. Each
day, I try my best, bettering my practice for student success through shared learning experiences.