Emily Dalgleish Professor John Yelding 9/25/2013 Education 500: Perspectives in Education Educational Philosophy

Educational Philosophy As human beings, our philosophy of life is molded by our experiences and by the values and morals instilled in us over the years. Being from a loving family that raised me with specific values and faith, I know that those experiences and ideas are going to be infused in my teaching. Also, my own educational experiences will influence how I will manage and teach my students. I believe that a purpose of educating students is to give them future opportunities. I believe that every child has a right to an education. Unfortunately, in our country, we are still working to provide an equal education for all students despite socio-economics. Many factors inhibit a childs future when they do not have access to a good education. As a teacher, I want to try to help my students overcome the barriers that stand in the way of their dreams. As a teacher it is my job to facilitate and encourage the curiosity of learning in a safe and comfortable environment. Students come from many different backgrounds and they bring new experiences to a classroom from year to year. These unique individuals enrich a community of learners. To focus on the individual, I really want use different teaching methods to help engage my students. Not all students will learn material in the same way. Some learners are auditory or kinesthetic, while others are visual. By teaching my content through a variety of methods, I will be catering to the needs of many students. Differentiation and getting creative with my lessons will engage kids. Learning can always be fun, but you have to show them that different learning styles only enhance a community of learners. Utilizing movement, technology, and the arts will enhance my students learning and push them to higher levels of thinking. Whether my students construct, or I transmit, knowledge, it is my responsibility to teach standards mandated by the state and nation. I am more of a progressive and essentialist teacher. I am

progressive, because I feel that curriculum should be derived from childrens interests as well as the established curriculum. Learning is an active process; effective teaching should take into account cognitive, affective and psychomotor areas. I believe my teaching should be centered more on the child, and the needs that they specifically struggle with. However, there are certain subjects that need to be taught, because it is practical and necessary knowledge to learn. This is where I am a bit of an essentialist because education builds on itself, and, without the basics, the foundation of education cannot be laid. I feel teachers are at schools to not only do a job but to serve the needs of their students. Focusing on my classroom as a whole class, I want my students to be a part of a community where rules and procedures provide structure and safety. Within this environment, students will begin to learn how to interact appropriately with one another. They will focus on what it looks like to be a member of a community and what responsibilities they have to themselves and each other. My room will have class rules and consequences that we will create as a group. I get a final say in what the rules and consequences are, but I want my class to help make the rules and consequences, because it will give them a sense of ownership. Assessment of student learning should be both formative and summative. Formative assessment needs to drive my instruction at all times. What can I as the teacher do to improve my students learning? When I evaluate my students I will use state standards to evaluate them. Every assignment will be created to better enhance and reinforce a concept. I have a responsibility to my students to give them the best education I can.