1 Philosophy of Early Education Elaina J.

Moorehead The future of the world is in my classroom today, a future with the potential for good or badSeveral future presidents are learning from me today; so are the great writers of the next decades, and so are all of the so-called ordinary people who will make decisions in a democracy. I must never forget these same young people could be the thieves and murders of the future. Only a teacher? Thank God I have a calling to the greatest profession of all! I must be vigilant every day, lest I lose one fragile opportunity to improve tomorrow. Ivan Welton Fitzwater Children are the most important entity of our future; they are what decide our fate as a Nation. The early education classroom is where children gain a foundation upon which to build their knowledge and character. Teachers are one of the most important adults in a childs life; we must choose to make a positive impact on each student we teach by setting exceptional examples. One long-term goal of mine is to prepare each student to be a successful member of our 21st century society. One way I do this is by giving students handson learning experiences that connect them to the world around them. An example of one of the hands-on experiences I have given to students was a Science module on Pennsylvania animals. Students learned about different types of animals (mammals, arthropods, insects, vertebrates and invertebrates, nocturnal and diurnal, ( ect.)) and then were partnered and each group assigned a PA animal. Students begin by researching their animal using various books and the Internet. After researching, students have access to computers where they type their research into a report on their animal including information about habitat, diet, type of animal, and fun facts. I ask my students to draw and color a picture of their animal and we compile reports and pictures into a hardcover book that each student receives. This project not only gives students the opportunity to take responsibility for their learning, but it builds social skills by partnering. The PA animals project also incorporates two other huge facets of my classroom: technology, and parents. I feel so blessed to be teaching in a society where I have access to so many different modes of technology because technology has the power to enhance learning in ways that are almost infinite. Throughout the PA animals project, students have access to computers to research their animals. I also have iBooks and iPad apps that can be used as tools for research. In our 21st century world, these web-based research skills are of utmost importance to students. In the conclusion of our PA animals project, students plan to create a 3D habitat for their assigned animal. Students are given a poster board as the background of their habitat and asked to bring in items to create their habitat at school. The last leg of this project brings parents in to the school for an afternoon to create the habitat with their child. We have all heard the saying parents are a childs first teacher; this statement is completely true in every way. Parents teach their children from the day they are born to eat, talk, walk, and many other more complex and important lessons. I feel that parent involvement is absolutely integral

2 to each childs learning experience. Because of this, I try to encourage parent involvement as much as possible by bringing parents in to the classroom and keeping them up to date on what we do. I send monthly parent newsletters home as well as encourage parent volunteers in the classroom and on field trips. Another large component to my classroom is the way I manage my classroom. My classroom is a place where children can feel safe, take risks and express themselves, but it is also a place that is structured and organized. I have very high expectations for my students and because of the atmosphere of mutual respect, students strive to reach and many times go beyond my expectations. One way I foster this type of atmosphere is by understanding the needs of my students. I recognize that each of my students come from very diverse backgrounds and that each of them have different abilities that make them unique. I always encourage students to talk about their differences so that everyone in my classroom can gain knowledge from their lives and experiences. This also helps create a safe environment in my classroom by making students feel comfortable sharing differences. I also understand that students learn best by being engaged in whatever it is they are learning. To make a complicated math unit more within reach I created the Thing-a-ma-bobber Machine where students went in as a certain number and came out as something different. After a series of students going in and coming back out, the class had to figure out the rule or pattern that the machine was using. This was a way to kinesthetically and visually teach a more complicated unit of math. I also themed my machine with the minions from Despicable Me, which are so popular with children right now which tied in student interests. Another aspect of my classroom management is the positive atmosphere in my classroom. Students are much more apt to engagement and learning when they are encouraged and lifted up. My classroom rules are always stated in the positive rather than the negative and students are almost always given a warning before so that they may have a second chance at correcting their behavior before being punished. I always try my best to make learning fun and engaging so that each day in our class is one with a positive atmosphere. I envision my classroom as a place where children can come and feel safe to learn new things and discuss things they do not understand. I do my best to give my students a solid foundation of core academic skills as well as social skills that will lead them to success throughout the rest of their lives. I strive daily to improve upon everything I do and teach in my classroom. I truly cannot wait to see where my students will end up and see what the future will become in their capable hands.