Nicole Savani

Philosophy of Education
Early childhood education is a crucial component to the growth and development of
each individual child. Studying how children gain knowledge through their life experiences and
how genetics play a role, I can access how appropriate practices help children learn while in a
supportive physical and interpersonal environment. Along with how genes affect a childs
development, I became aware that most of what children learn in their environment is through
play. With families and supportive, empathetic teachers, I realize that children learn through a
system of networks. Children are able to excel and succeed when given the right opportunities
and curriculum to further their understandings of the world around them.
I believe the early childhood profession is extremely important because childrens brain
development is so crucial within the first five years of life. With this fast- paced development, a
childs brain plasticity allows children to learn new skills within a window of opportunity. Like
major theorist, Jean Piaget stated, children explore the world through their senses. Children
need opportunities to assimilate new knowledge and build new schemas. Children need these
experiences before entering a school-aged setting. I believe children need to acquire social and
learning experiences that will not only affect their intellectual skills, but help them develop who
they are as a person. As a teacher, it is important that children learn these basic skills early on
in life since they see adults as a model for their behaviors.
Quality early education means that children need an environment that is
developmentally appropriate. By my studies on education, I learned that children are all unique
and have their own milestone goals, individual needs, and diverse backgrounds. Quality care is
to respect children and their families and accept their different needs. Some children have
different ways of learning and their own challenges. As a quality early childhood professional,
my goal is to strive to become a better individual while showing children empathy, respect, and
a love for learning.
Furthermore, I believe children learn best through hands-on experiences. From my
observations, I concluded that children attain information through concrete materials. Children
need to be able to physically manipulate materials. Young children are unable to think
abstractly. Using their senses, children can accommodate information. As a teacher, by
providing open-ended materials, children can learn to problem solve, reason, and attain goals
with their cognitive abilities. Boxes, plastic tubes, coffee filters, and other inexpensive
materials can provide children to use symbolic thinking to enhance their development. Along
with hands-on experiences, teachers help children learn best by scaffolding their learning
process. I believe children need to be able to explore materials on their own. With the
childrens curiosity, teachers can extend knowledge after a moment of experimentation.
Childrens hands-on experiences with suitable and appropriate materials will help attain their
developmental milestones.
 Children learn a lot through the physical environment in early education. I believe a
classroom environment should allow children to strive to become independent. Like one of my
favorite theorist Erikson, children of a young age go through a stage where they need to acquire
autonomy. By having child- size furniture, low shelves, artwork displayed at a childs eye level,
appropriate materials, children can learn these skills. Like the Reggio Emilia approach, I believe
children learn a lot through the environment- in other words the third teacher. The lighting and
the arrangement of the room can help children learn too. Less quiet centers, such as dramatic
play and blocks should be separate from quieter areas. Children need to be able to move freely
through the classroom, but not too much to where it can cause ongoing challenging behaviors.
Challenging behaviors will arise less if the environment enhances an individuals development.
Also, a room that displays different abilities, multicultural posters, and print in different
languages helps children learn language skills and a respect for diversity. The physical
environment should tell children they are safe and their choices are appreciated.
I believe the most important quality a teacher can have is a respect for children.
Children are capable of so many things, and they have come into the world gaining knowledge
through their experiences. We can learn so much through children. As a teacher, we need to
take a step back and get to know the children on a personal level. We should not be directing
in our lessons. Rather, we should be collaborating and working together. By listening to what
children say and being empathetic, we can find ourselves respecting these young learners.
Children learn much of their information from the world around them. They look to us,
teachers, to model appropriate behaviors. If we want children to learn respect, we ourselves
must be respectful of how they learn, what they learn, and the way they process information.
To create better learners, we must show respect to children and their surroundings.
Play is so important for children. Its so important because it is how children learn.
They need concrete objects to manipulate to enhance their developmental domains. Young
children are not capable of abstract thinking, so they gain information from real-life materials.
For instance, children learning about apples need the real fruit. They can use their senses to
determine many things about its shape, size, taste, and other qualities. By showing children an
apple on paper, they are not going to gain too many facts or make their ideas; especially, if they
never have encountered it. They are going to learn best when they are completely engrossed
in a fun, playful activity. Being able to explore and play with objects lets children explore
concepts which will later help with academic successes.
Curriculum and classroom planning are extremely important when wanting children to
gain knowledge in an organized manner. Planning should consider the childrens cultures and
interests. Without planning, children will be confused with the material presented, and the
classroom atmosphere may become hectic which can lead to undesirable behaviors. They need
well thought-out transitions when it comes to routines. Also, planning will help with concepts
and goals that children will learn. With the developmental milestones to consider, teachers can
determine how and what children can learn. Lessons, routines, centers, webbings, research,
goals, concepts, family strategies, and resources will help educators provide the best learning
environment. It is so important to gain information before presenting the materials in a hands-
on way because teachers need to know what is developmentally appropriate and what works
best for each child.
In a classroom, I believe it is extremely important for families to be involved in their
childrens education. Families are the childrens first teacher, and they continue to teach them
throughout life. When families and teachers communicate, they can decide what works best
for the child. Newsletters, bulletin boards, telephone calls, emails, webpages, and travel bags
are some ways to stay in touch with parents. I suggest multiple methods to be used due to the
complexity of families communication. I truly think families should be included and allowed to
participate in classroom activities when available. We learn a lot about children through their
families. Also, families can feel at ease with how their children learn if they are able to see the
learning process for themselves. Extensions activities can be sent home to extends childrens
learning outside of school. Families can work with their children and observe what theyre
gaining out of school. Families and I can continue to work as a team to become better role
models for the children.
Early childhood education can make such a big difference in childrens lives. Through
quality care, children can grow and development to the best of their potential. Hands-on
activities can form help with better connections to help learn more concepts. An environment
that supports the different abilities of each individual, and a interpersonal environment that
deems the child as important can let these young learners know they are worthy and capable of
anything they put their minds to. If the curriculum is based on play and the learners interest,
teachers can extend childrens knowledge. Families, teachers, and children can work together
to help with resiliency, empathy, self-help skills, and respect for diversity and abilities.