Katie Scandiffio

3/8/16

Edu 360-04 Revised Philosophy

As a childhood special education educator, my role is not just to teach, but to guide and

encourage my students to achieve their goals. I strongly believe that having special needs does

not lessen a students ability to learn. It is important to recognize that all children learn

differently. The goal of my academically diverse classroom will be to meet and exceed the age

and grade appropriate academic standards. With the right team behind the students supporting

them as they learn new materials, they will always be successful. Using the major concepts and

principles based off of the development of children, I will conduct a classroom with learning

opportunities based on my students development and motivation. It is important for children to

be challenged in the class room. I believe that if a task does not challenge the student, it will not

enhance learning. With me as their motivator, challenges will be faced and overcome in the

classroom as a team.

As the school year progresses, my goal is for my students to pose their own questions,

encouraging them to come to their own conclusions. Interactive lessons and group work get

students involved and help them learn new materials and content. By working with each other,

my students will grow as learners together. They are encouraged to help classmates

collaboratively when they are struggling, and reinforce their own learning.

John Dewey, a progressivist, believed that teachers are a guide to students in showing

them information that allows them to connect it with the world around them. I believe the same,

and will aid my students in making this connection. As my students come to me with questions, I
will answer them to my full capability, however I will also guide them to seek their own answers.

Although I teach all subjects as an elementary school teacher, my college concentration in

English will help me to connect my lessons to the ELA standards and make connections to the

Common Core. This will also help me to guide my students to be able to read and understand a

wide range of texts from other cultures, as well as their own to help them acquire new

information and build an understanding of the many dimensions of human experience. This will

also help my students to use written and verbal language for their own purposes, as well as to

communicate effectively with a variety of audiences. It is more than important to me that my

students are motivated to learn new materials during their time inside my culturally responsive

classroom. Technology will be used as a tool throughout the classroom, allowing students access

to resources when they are finished with other work. This will help them to gather and

communicate new information among their peers. My students deserve my full attention when it

comes to their education. I will support them in any way they need, such as extra help hours

before and after school. I will communicate with parents to inform them of their childs growth

throughout the school year.

As an educator, my role is not only just to teach. My goal is for my students to not only

see me as their teacher, but as a role model as well. As their teacher, I am aware that I have a

large influence in my students lives. My classroom will be a safe and healthy learning

environment for all. My classroom is a place where students will be learning, creating,

challenging and expanding their knowledge. All children, as well as parents, colleagues and

administrators should feel comfortable approaching me, and see me as someone who will be fair.

Teaching students is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. I will consistently be

looking for ways to improve myself as a teacher.