All of my personal experiences in grade school have influenced the philosophy of education that I hold today. Although my philosophy will continuously evolve as I keep on growing and gaining experience in the field, right now, I know that my overall goal as a teacher is to get my students excited to explore, discover, and learn. I believe that the purpose of education is to guide students as they learn more about themselves and the world in which they live in. Therefore, I want my students to want to learn, both in the classroom and beyond the classroom. I want my students to be lifelong learners. Reaching my goal cannot be accomplished overnight; it takes building relationships that will aid in the promotion of exploration and discovery within the classroom and in the hearts of students.
When we were little toddlers, the world was our learning space. We were learning more about the world and ourselves as we explored and tried new things around us. I believe that that type of exploration should not end as you move into the next chapter of your life, formal schooling. The classroom should promote free and guided exploration and discovery. It should also be a place for students to have and take their time to explore and discover a topic. By investing time in exploration and discovery, students will have the chance to deepen their understanding through authentic tasks. Through the resources and invested time, students are able to be the experts in the field; students are able to be scientists, mathematicians, historians, writers, artists, etc. Furthermore, students are able to make meaningful connections with the content. I truly believe that if there is personal connection to the things that you are doing or learning, it will have a greater impact on you. Additionally, incorporating a multicultural perspective in the curriculum is important. Specifically, promoting equity in the classroom for all students by empowering all cultures. Likewise, it is also important to provide multiple perspectives in the classroom. By providing various perspectives, the material that is presented is more likely to personally connect with every student.
The classroom environment is very important in regards to creating a space where students can explore and discover. Students should feel comfortable about going to their teacher about any personal issues that may or may not relate to school. This is really important because I think that a child should always have multiple adult figures who they can turn to for help. Furthermore, a safe classroom is a place free of competition. It is quite common for school to become a place of competition because of the high emphasis on grades. I think that an environment fueled by competition deters students from taking chances or risks, when they should not be discouraged to. Thus, I believe that a classroom is the place to take risks and chances. In a ‘competition-free’ classroom, the students are able to focus on learning the content and they are more willing to work with each other collaboratively. Therefore, if a student should “fail” at something, they will not become discouraged; instead they will learn from the challenge and try again. Accordingly, students would learn to look for academic challenges and persevere through each difficult situation; students will be enabled to build a growth mindset. Students should be encouraged to step out of their comfort zone, and when doing so be supported by the teacher and their fellow classmates so that they can succeed. In addition to creating a classroom that is free of competition, it is equally important to work to meet every learner’s needs. Differentiating the materials so that every student: students with exceptionalities, students who are talented and gifted, students learning English as a Second Language, and students who are considered in the ‘mainstream’ classroom receive the support that is needed to assist them in learning and succeeding. This means that if the student is having a difficult time in the classroom, it is the teacher’s job to figure out what resources can be applied to help the student. Furthermore, the teacher should differentiate the material to reach a wide range of learners. This is achieved when each student is working so that they are all comfortably challenged. Moreover, a student should be able to have the freedom to demonstrate his or her knowledge in a way that works best for him or her. There should never just be one form of assignment or assessment that is required. In fact, I believe that an authentic form of assessment is best for students. Overall, the classroom should be student centered to reach each learner’s needs.
Finally, nothing that was mentioned above can happen without building strong relationships and a community within the classroom. Relationships between the students and teacher are crucial in making sure that the class environment effectively encourages collaborative learning. Everything lies on the foundation of trust and respect of each other. The teacher should be able to trust that his or her students will always try their best. Additionally, the teacher should be able to trust that his or her students will demonstrate respect. Likewise, the students should be able to trust that the teacher will respect them. Also, the teacher should always treat the students as people. For a teacher to be able to do this, it means breaking down the (power) barrier of teacher-student and getting to know your class. Lastly, the students should trust that the teacher will always put them first; that their teacher will always be thinking about each individual’s needs and well-being as well as the class as a whole.
Strong relationships do not just stop at the students; they extend to parents and guardians, faculty, and administration. I believe that parents/guardians should be connected as much as possible as to what is going on in the classroom. Parents/guardians and teachers need to work together to figure out everything that the student needs to succeed and to provide those resources. Parents should be notified of the student’s accomplishments throughout the day, week, or unit. Furthermore, if parents and teachers should discuss a serious situation regarding the student, both parties should focus on the “why did/is the situation occurring” and “what can we do to help the student improve and grow” instead of dwelling on the negatives. Thus, parents/guardians and teachers should always highlight the growth that the student makes. Additionally, a strong relationship with your co-workers is important. Your co-workers can be your support system because they can give you a “fresh set of eyes” when looking at a situation in your classroom. The same relationship should be built with the administration. By forming this strong relationship with parents/guardians, faculty, and administration new perspectives and ideas emerge that will ultimately help you better yourself as a teacher for your class.
Good teachers never stop learning. They should always be learning about new strategies or styles that could be implemented into the classroom. This also means that the teacher is always reflecting and improving on his or her practices. Foremost, I think that teachers need to effectively communicate to their students that he or she is still in the process of learning. I think if a teacher takes the time to acknowledge their mistakes or something that is not working, it reinforces the ideas that the classroom environment is a place for safe risk taking. I think that this has been one of my most memorable insights because I recognized that mistakes and not knowing everything is natural. In first grade, we were doing a unit on the solar system and time. I remember asking my teacher what A.M. and P.M. stood for and she said she didn't know and she would look into it. The next day, she came to me and told me that A.M. stands for ante meridiem and post meridiem. This was a memorable moment because it showed me that we are always learning. Many times teachers may seem as the “all knowing” just giving information to students. But that is not the case; teachers (people) do not know everything. Consequently, it underscores the idea that everyone is continuously learning.
Overall, my goal as an educator is to help my students get excited to explore, discover, and learn. My philosophy of education has been shaped by the experiences I had as a student and by the people that have entered my life. As an educator, I will work to impact my students as much as my past teachers impacted me. However, I cannot reach my goal if I do not create an environment that promotes exploration, discovery, and learning. Thus, as an educator I will promote (academic) risk taking, create a competition-free zone, meet all learners’ needs, and create strong relationships with my students. I want my students to want to learn. I want my students to be lifelong learners.