My Educational Philosophy
Education is one of the key ingredients to life. Teachers play a vital role in every individual’s education. Out of the four philosophies of education, I’m closely related to essentialism. To be an essentialist teacher is simply teaching based on structured lessons while intertwining the experience and information adolescents will need to become successful in their future.
My philosophy is based on my educational experience. Teachers are the determining factor of the atmosphere in the classroom. The most enjoyable classes for me consisted of well- driven teachers who had engaging activities that accompanied their lessons. I didn’t necessarily like the teachers who did all the sharing and didn’t give the class the opportunity to provide their input. To me, it’s important to clarify every students understanding while they are physically in class. As a student, I appreciated the teacher not solely taking over the class but serving as the mediator. The connection with the teacher is gained through balanced classroom engagement. Looking back, as early as first grade, I remember my teacher involving the whole class in various activities. I remember becoming one of her class helpers because I always finished my work early. It made me enjoy coming to school each day. The strong connection I shared with my favorite teachers ultimately helped me build my view on the way I’d like to operate my classroom.
My role as a teacher is not only to get my students prepared to transition to the next grade but to prepare them for their future endeavors. In addition, I would like to appear to my students as one of the individuals in their support system and serve as a role model for those in need of a positive figure in t...
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...tant to have self- confidence and self-motivation. I feel if you don’t believe in yourself, no one else can make a difference. One’s success is ultimately based on their own self-drive. The student’s responsibilities include completing their homework and classwork, listening to the teacher, engaging in classroom activities and staying focused in class. Throughout the school year, I would like to see my students, grow in all aspects to become an improved student.
Education is like climbing a continual staircase. There are so many lessons and obstacles teachers and students will face as they climb the steps together. As a teacher, I will strive to push my students beyond their limits while ensuring they gain the knowledge that is necessary to become a successful individual. My goal is to strengthen my essentialist philosophy through my journey of becoming a teacher.
If essentialism is going to be brought back into the classroom many changes are needed. The students’ curricula of today’s schools have too many classes that stray students away from the basic subjects. Another point of today’s schools is that there is too much acceptance for absences, tardiness, and misbehavior. Students feel like the school is their personal playground and there is nothing the teachers can do about it...
My philosophy on education is that all students should receive the most uplifting educational experience. I want to change a student’s spirit towards all aspects of their school and curriculum. Creating a sense of pride in themselves and where they attend school is a crucial element in their interest in education. A student should be allowed to form their own opinions, instead of conforming to the ideas of their teacher. This will be accomplished by allowing the students to take charge of their learning so that it will hold some significance to them. I feel it is my responsibility to help shape the students’ character, as well as their minds. An educator should model the behaviors that are expected from their students. An educator should practice ideal qualities such as acceptance, empathy, and broadmindedness. A teacher is not the only model that students will be exposed to in their life. This is why it is crucial to involve parents and other members of the community to share in your vision. Students learn a variety of social skills as they embark on their education at any school district. They learn to listen, take turns, hear different points of view, negotiate, communicate, and take responsibility for their own behavior. I believe that when students have those skills and attitudes; learning will be meaningful in their lives. The vision of an educator will not hold any meaning unless it is implemented, maintained and promoted to the school and community. The goal of the school is to provide the students with a wide variety of educational experiences that will encourage self-respect, the acceptance of others, customary behavior, life-long learning, and active participation in society.
A teacher’s personal philosophy of education is a critical element in his or her approach to guiding children along the path of enlightenment. Hence, there are five key educational philosophies recognized in the field of education. These include, Essentialism, Perennialism, Progressivism, Existentialism, and Behaviorism (Sadker & Sadker, 1994, p. 382-83). Each carries both positive and negative tenets, at least in my opinion. Therefore, I prefer an eclectic discernment in my quest of an educational philosophy. Because, my idea of the perfect teacher is one, who inspires learning in addition to just relating the required facts. A certain amount of creativity, enthusiasm, and motivation is required of the teacher. Certainly, this is a tall
Essentialism, made popular by William Bagley in the 1930’s, is the form of education most of us know well from our schooling experiences. It has also been called the “...
What that I have learned about myself is that I feel that I am a patient and kind person. Whenever I am talking to the children with a warm and soft voice and they are more likely to listen and follow direction. I know you can’t reach every student, but I think I have a responsibility to give every child a chance to succeed.
As a teacher, I would be able to spend more quality time with my children and help them after school with homework. In addition to meeting these personal goals, teaching would allow me to reach out to area students and help them build character and acquire knowledge. The classroom is a complex society. In each room, there must be an atmosphere in which students of all backgrounds can learn. By being a constructivist one can combine the elements of essentialism, progressivism, behaviorism, perennialism, and existentialism to form a successful teaching philosophy and therefore a successful classroom. Below, I will discuss how these ideas can be combined for success. As essentialism states, the teacher needs to have control in the instruction of the classroom. Lecturing and supervising the improvement of skills are great ways to teach materials. A case in point here shows one of the teaching fundamentals, of the core subjects reading, writing, math, and nature sciences. This gives you the intellectual discipline to solve problems that involve complex ideas. In progressivism, students have more of a democratic voice in the learning process. Although the teacher will be the facilitator of the process, by using a cooperative learning activity the students are designing there own education and are guided in a direction by the teacher.
The philosophy of essentialism is important to me, although I feel students can still relate to school in a positive way. Students can learn the core subjects—reading, writ...
When it comes to teaching, there are five different philosophies that teachers follow: essentialism, perennialism, progressivism, social reconstruction, or existentialism. For this paper, these philosophies are identified as if in an elementary school setting. Each philosophy specifies an approach that is catered to the different strategies
The job of a teacher is never easy but we have seen how cooperative discipline and enabling students to feel capable, connected and contributing can improve classroom management and maybe even our own moods. If we create an environment of mutual respect and give our students legitimate power of voice and choice in the classroom we will see positive results in improved student behavior and student achievement. Because when our students believe that they can succeed, they will.
Although I am eclectic, I have very strong opinions about what should be taught, and that is where I gather from the Essentialists. One of the basic beliefs of the Essentialists is that every child should, upon graduation, possess a basic body of knowledge. Included in this body of knowledge are such things as writing, reading, measurement, and computing. I agree that the child should have a basic body of knowledge, but I do not concur that it should be merely enormous rather than practical. In addition, I agree with the Essentialist beliefs that the program should be academically rigorous; that the teacher should model the correct behavior and instill such things as respect for authority, perseverance, dependability, dutifulness, consideration for others, and practicality. Traditional values and morals should be upheld ...
...quences and breaking the cycle. Rules and expectations of my classroom will be established in the beginning of the year by the students and me as a group. I will allow children to speak to me without interrupting them and we will work as a team. I can only hope and assume the best of each students parents but I do not know what goes on outside my classroom so I will do my best to motivate my students and make them feel that they can be whoever they strive to be with a little hard work. I know that a parents support and interest could help a student strive to achieve and do better in school, but being that not everyone has that I want to make the students feel that they can do anything they want to do even if they don’t have someone who pushes them. I will help them believe that they can do anything that they set their mind to as long as they believe in themselves.
334). It also focuses on key subject areas in the class that are crucial when running a classroom based on this teacher-centered philosophy. These core subjects, based on Roberson (2014), involve: math, social studies, and science (p. 344). It is clear that Essentialism reminds whoever the source of information which is given to the students is directly from the teacher. A teacher, who is following this philosophy, knows that the information the teacher provides to the students is, “based on knowledge and evidence-based experience” (Elgstrom & Hellstenius, 2011, p. 721-722). Essentialism, according to Elgstrom & Hellstenius (2011) also plays an effective part in teaching when key elements of discipline and hierarchy are in play (p. 721-722). Advantages in essentialism include, school work that is coordinated and prepared by the teacher for the students (Roberson, 2014, p. 345). Disadvantages for essentialism involve how well the teacher and the student process all the information. For the teacher it involves how well the teacher teaches the subjects and for the students; on how well they can score on the test remembering the information. Roberson (2014) says that when not meeting up to the standards of the testing, teachers are more likely to take the blame than students
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.
Considering the traditional teaching methods and the abundance of test-taking in schools, it is evident that the philosophical theory, Essentialism, has a strong presence in classrooms. Although Essentialism affects policymakers, parents, and the mass public, it most importantly affects the students. By deeply analyzing the issue of an overwhelming Essentialist presence in education, one can conclude that Essentialism is the root of contemporary issues in education.
In conclusion, us teachers must find ways to reach the minds of every individual by allowing them to express themselves and understand every lesson taught. My goal as a teacher is to provide to in each and every student with the necessary skills and knowledge so they could succeed on their own. I want to leave a memory of myself as a teacher who was not afraid to roll up the sleeves to help another student in any way and influenced others to do the right thing. My colleagues recall me a teacher who regularly participates and who was active to contribute assistance to the school community.