Essay Articulating Personal Philosophy and Understanding of Middle Level Education
As I begin to take my first tentative steps out in the real world of teaching, and no long just purely the theoretical, I find myself focusing more on what I can do for my students rather than just what I am going to be teaching. I think back to the time where I myself was a middle school level student, and find that what I thought I knew then about my teacher truly pales in comparison to the reality that I now face. Teaching is not just about what I know of my about my subject material (although that is important to any teacher,) but it also about making sure that by having a solid understanding of our students we as teachers, can provide for them the best education that is possible. Also, I believe that it is imperative that teachers be able to coordinate and cooperate with one another to make sure that all the needs of our students (both academically and developmentally) are being met.
The developmental changes
As I begin to focus on the students that I will be teaching, I cannot help but continue to reflect back to a time when I myself was one of them. I grew over a foot taller, packed on almost one hundred pounds and even had begun to shave, just to name a few of the changes that occurred during my time there. The young adolescents that enter into our schools each day are perhaps the most unique age group that we as teachers will ever face. Middle school level students undergo radical physical, mental, emotional and even social changes, and as teachers, we must be prepared to meet as many of these developmental needs of our students as possible. These challenges are something that middle school teacher need to face each day. This forces th...
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...as it relates to teaching in middle grades; philosophy is based on best practices regarding adolescent development.
Curriculum
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Filler/Reflection Sentence
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Assessment
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Closing Paragraph
Perhaps the most common question I have been asked whenever I’ve been identified as a potential teacher is “Why?” The question, as well as the answer, has always been the epicenter of my thoughts as time has gone on. The answer is simple: I want to make a want to make a difference. If what I know is able to influence just one person positively and made them better, then I have done what I set out to do. The more people I can help by teaching them just middle level mathematics, the greater impact I’ve left, and to me that is worth every trial and tribulation that may come my way.
When I am teaching in a high school someday, what philosophies will be evident in my classroom? What methods will I use to reach my students? In my present education, I am beginning to think carefully and deeply about these issues. From what I have read and learned and from comparing various philosophies with each other, I have come to realize that I am a strong essentialist, and I also see many strong points in progressivism and behaviorism.
There are many reasons people decide to enter the teaching field. Some enter because they enjoy working with people or children, others because they like being off during the summer months, and still others because of their love for a particular subject. Although all these reasons are valid, I feel my reasons are much simpler. The bottom line is that I love kids and enjoy working with them. My desire to make learning a more positive experience for them has only increased with time.
“Middle schools provide 10 to 15-year-olds with developmentally appropriate educational experiences that emphasize the education and overall well-being of the learners,” to address their developmental needs as adolescents (Manning, Bucher, p. 9). Middle school teachers are a big part of providing an environment where their students can grow as the diverse learners that they are, but also an environment that caters to the developmental needs of their students. Teac...
I want to teach because I want to help my students create the foundation of their lives in mathematics and as individuals. As a future teacher of mathematics, I fear that students are becoming more and more hostile towards math. It bothers me because math is very important to learn conceptually and is a skill that will teach you multiple life skills. Mathematics is a life lesson when taught correctly. It teaches students good work ethic, integrity, humility, and discipline. These are all qualities that will help my students grow as individuals and as learners throughout their entire lives. I want to teach my students to love math because it is a skill that will help them grow. I think Rafe Esquith said it
Education is a very important aspect of our lives. It is our education that makes us who we are and determines what we become. Therefore, education is not something to be taken lightly. As a teacher, my goal will be to provide the best possible education for my students. Every student is unique. I must see students for who they are individually and respect their ideas and opinions. Each student has a different learning style. I must take this into consideration because I want to provide a constructive learning opportunity for every student. I believe that every student has the potential to learn.
Before taking my philosophy self-assessment, I was sure my highest score would fall somewhere in humanistic or social change. I was surprised when I saw that all of my scores fell within six points of each other in all five of the philosophies. After thinking about this, I have determined that I have come to see the benefits of each of the philosophies of education and have drawn pieces from each one in order to shape my own philosophy of education and teaching. Behavioral, progressive and humanistic are the three philosophies that I scored highest in and I will attempt to show how my philosophy relates to ethical teaching of each in today’s classroom. In Nodding’s Philosophy of Education he says, “Thoughtful people continue to examine the old responses, to generate new ones induced by changing conditions and to reflect on current responses in the interest of making education as good as it can be.”
When thinking of a philosophy of teaching, four major issues need to be considered. Those issues are one’s views on education, the role of the teacher, teaching and learning, and on the children. This is something that someone entering the teaching profession needs to give serious thought to and realize the importance that this will hold in the future. The following essay will express my philosophy of teaching.
As we reminisce and reflect back either on our childhood or academic career, we tend to have that one teacher who was memorable to us in some way - for their sense of humor, their stellar personality, or perhaps having that charisma and charm no other teacher had to make a difficult subject and it 's concepts fun to learn. While knowledge is power, I firmly believe that it is rather the exchange and distribution of knowledge that is power. When one can educate the masses there is no doubt that together we can accomplish great things. Becoming a teacher would mean the opportunity to be able to witness the shaping and molding of the minds of the future generations and the satisfaction knowing that you have helped your students set themselves onto the right path and provide guidance towards the creation of a better tomorrow. Choosing to become a teacher will allow me not only to educate my students, but also educate myself to be a better teacher throughout my career. I believe it is a function of human nature to want to change the world for the better. In adulthood, I have learned that the improvement of the welfare of the world must begin with
Being a teacher is not an easy task as many people could think. To be a teacher does not only imply to know the subject to be taught, it also includes being willing to constantly improve oneself integrally, as much as updating the resources and materials one uses in teaching. Reflecting and analyzing over and over again the best way to teach to learn and how to make students to extend what has been learned. The many hours spend in the classroom will never be enough to plan lessons, prepare materials, review pupils tasks and exams, as well, all the administrative requirements one has to cover for whatever institution we work. Besides all this a good teacher, a professional one, will have to find the time to keep preparing to improve oneself.
Individuals who enter the field of education reply to the question why teach with various answers. There is beauty, joy, and fulfillment in this profession, and these spirit-lifting emotions are the result of watching annually as a new group of children enter to learn and leave with the knowledge to achieve. Richard Dufour (2000), author of Why Teach expressed his views on the profession first by stating that teaching is not the career for everyone. He goes on to say, that the education profession has the ability to present the “unique opportunity” for individuals to cast a positive influence upon others (Why Teach, 2000, p.1). The smiles received from a room full of students when as a whole their individual needs, both educational and personal have been catered to, prompts a burst of passion in every teacher.
Ever since a long time ago, adolescents had always been taught by teachers in several different ways. Since, every teacher has their own belief in a certain type of philosophy because not everyone is the same. As well as, there is no right way for a teacher to teach with their specific philosophy since, each child has their own way of learning. On a few occasions a student will appreciate other philosophies that my classmates did not infer to have had in their survey they had taken. Depending on the type of philosophy the teacher uses on the students shapes the way the classroom.
My philosophy on education and learning is simple; to teach my future students to the best of my ability to achieve academic success. As well as getting to know my students well. Getting to know a little of their background can help make a difference in our teaching career. As a teacher, we care for our student’s educational needs and to achieve a full potential in their learning ability. I believe that education is an individual, unique experience for every student who enters a classroom. Having a passion for teaching and providing students with a proper education should always be a teacher’s top priority.
Education is an ever-changing part of society. A classroom teacher is faced with new challenges and obstacles that have never been dealt with before. Students come to the classroom with different life stories. Every student has strengths and weaknesses that surface in the classroom environment. Teachers must understand and focus on utilizing each student's strengths and work to improve weaknesses. Students learn in a variety of ways. The classroom must be a safe zone that appreciates student's viewpoints and allows room for mistakes. When topics in the classroom are related to "real-life" experiences, the information is more likely to be retained. Students learn from one another. The ideas and perspectives that each student brings to the classroom can bring insight into what is being learned. Students have to be allowed to explore new ideas, try them to see if they work, and sometimes fail. When students are encouraged to explore, they begin the process of becoming lifelong learners.
Coming into the teaching profession not knowing a lot, I was able to use previous experience from previous teachers to understand how important it is to understand whether or not students really understand the subject being taught. Having a passion to teacher also improves how much work teachers have to put into to make sure students understand. Growing up, I had the opportunity to experience what it was like to have a teacher was passionate about mathematics. This particular opportunity showed me how much effect he was able to put on his students performance, but most importantly how much effort he had to put into things to see a change in his students work.
First, I realized that, teachers carry a lot of weight on their shoulders and have great responsibilities. They have to balance the curriculum, students, parents, lesson plans, common core, and upper management and still maintain a professional demeanor. Second, educators must follow a strong code of ethics. They must be professional at all times with students and colleagues, keep confidentiality, not have or show any prejudice or bias, maintain safe and positive learning environments, help students with problems, and hand out disciplines accordingly. Lastly, I found that when you’re a teacher, your education never stops. Teachers are always trying to improve their own education and professional growth, both for the benefit of their students and for the benefit of themselves.