Educational Philosophy

Educational Philosophy

“I’m gonna be a teacher!” I remember telling my second grade teacher, Ms. Akers. It was time to prepare for Open House and we were doing projects based upon our chosen life profession. It was wonderful being in the second grade – you could be anything in the world. And I wanted to be a teacher.

That was nearly twenty-five years ago, and my decision still stands. Experience and maturity have changed my views on many issues, but I still want to help shape future generations. I believe our future is held in the hands of today’s children and it is everyone’s responsibility, and an educator’s privilege, to help children discover who they are and whom they can be.

While there are many approaches and disciplines related to education, I believe it is naïve to think that any one approach is all-inclusive. Just as several subjects are studied to make a whole education, several approaches, when combined, can create a more wholesome educational experience.

I agree with the Progressivism view that education must be relevant to the needs and interests of students and that learning increases when we are engaged in meaningful activities. A student’s full potential cannot be reached if his/her basic needs such as food, clothing, and compassion are not met. While we are not social workers, we can show the student that he/she is valued and cared for by the way we interact with him/her. Likewise, if a student is not interested in the subject being taught, he/she will be less likely to concentrate and learn. It is our job as educators to create interesting environments with stimulating approaches to learning.

It has been my experience that the Behaviorism approach of positive reinforcement is a very effective method. If we, as teachers, provide positive reinforcement whenever students perform a desired behavior/task, they soon will learn to perform the behavior/task on their own.

Children need to learn on their own in a relaxed environment and be given support when appropriate.