My Educational Philosophy 1

My Educational Philosophy
Leslie Hudson

Texas A&M University-Commerce

Robert Wolfe, Instructor

ETEC 424

April 12, 2020

My Educational Philosophy 2

My Educational Philosophy

Nelson Mandela - an advocate for proper schooling conditions and a sustainable world -

once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Educators have an obligation to aid students toward success, and I believe that teaching them

to appreciate learning can boost their academic and personal success both now and

futuristically. Learning is a process we experience in our daily lives, but how will one apply and

understand knowledge if the learning process feels like a burden? Educators have the

opportunity to help their students appreciate learning by engaging them, integrating their

diverse learning styles, and making them feel significant. 

Learning should be interactive, direct, and applicable. Therefore, it must be flexible

according to each students’ needs and experiences to help them learn in a way that will

produce meaning. Educators should commit to learning each of their students’ needs to create

an environment that enhances and encourages their learning, knowledge, and application. This

can be accomplished best by integrating a hands-on approach to learning with an environment

that allows students to ‘learn by doing’.

The constructivism learning theory – based on the work of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky

- aligns with my beliefs about learning. This theory proposes that knowledge is personal, and it

is constructed through experiences (McLeod, 2019). Constructivism promotes hands-on

learning in a way that allows the teacher to “act as a facilitator of learning rather than an

instructor” (McLeod, 2019). This allows the students to engage with the content being

presented and stimulates their problem-solving skills. In the classroom, this learning theory is

represented by student-centered teaching methods, it builds upon students’ prior knowledge,

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and “promotes a sense of personal agency as students have ownership of their learning and

assessment” (McLeod, 2019). Because this theory proposes that knowledge is personal, it is

imperative that I meet the personal needs of my students as well.

Every student that enters the classroom each year has diverse needs. These needs can

be physical, emotional, educational, cultural, and/or mental health. As an educator, it is my

duty to be aware of my students’ needs and work diligently to provide for their specific needs.

Dr. Gene R. Carter, CEO and Executive Director of ASCD (an organization that supports learning,

teaching, and leading), explains that:

We must meet our students exactly where they are with exactly the brains they have

right now. We must use all the tools we have available to us and not expect them to fit

into a mold or all behave exactly the same (ASCD, n.d.).

As an educator, I have many helpful tools I can utilize to meet the diverse needs of my

students to help promote their learning. By working with campus administration, I can help

care for my students’ physical, emotional, and mental health. I will also make certain that my

students with physical or mental impairments or disabilities are receiving the supports they

need to be successful – working with parents and other staff members to provide appropriate

accommodations. Overall, I will be persistent in adapting my teaching strategies to meet the

needs of my students being attentive to working collaboratively with those on my campus that

can assist in meeting student needs as well.

My goal as an educator is to prepare students for the world before them - I want to

show them all that the world offers and help them understand they can attain their desires if

they work hard and apply themselves. I aim to make a positive impression on each student in
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and out of my classroom. I have an objective to prepare my students with more than the

essentials to pass a test and to build their confidence when facing any obstacle. I desire to see

my students become successful both through academics and the real world – where they can

pass a test, but also overcome real-life situations.

I hope that my students will walk into my classroom and be encapsulated in a safe,

joyful, and welcoming environment where they can freely participate and feel valued. I want to

shift the focus of my classroom from me (the teacher) to the students. I will be prepared to pre-

teach difficult concepts, provide visuals, and give instructions in small, distinct steps. I hope to

teach my students to find joy in expressing their thoughts and beliefs both in writing and in

speaking - knowing that I will always provide a listening ear and a hopeful heart. This type of

environment models enthusiastic learning and values students for their diversity which builds

upon their appreciation for learning.

I plan to accomplish my educational ambitions by integrating hands-on and collaborative

activities, implementing class discussions when appropriate. I will also implement student-

centered teaching. This type of teaching requires students to “monitor their own thinking” (A

Pass Educational Group, LLC, 2015). I will incorporate different strategies like allowing for

student choice and using open-ended questioning techniques. I will engage my students with

clear and direct instruction, diverse technology, and group projects. This student-centered

approach will increase student motivation, achievement, and overall contentment with the

school experience (A Pass Educational Group, LLC, 2015).

As a current employee in an educational field, I have seen firsthand where valuing

students impacts their learning. I have personally experienced the shout for joy when a student
My Educational Philosophy 5

makes sense of what they are learning, and I have experienced the satisfaction of being the one

to impact a student’s day for the better. Value and respect can be reciprocated if enforced

through the classroom, and welcoming/encouraging words can revamp student motivation.

Students should be taught that paying attention, performing their best, and diligent work will

yield successful results that will benefit them both now and later. 

I have been an instructional aid for two years. I have had the privilege of working with

kindergarten through 5th-grade students. I have witnessed students speak negatively to

themselves about their academic capabilities yet seen how a teacher’s constant reminder that

they are capable and that they are smart has built the students’ confidence and proved them

successful. I have watched as students breathe a sigh of relief as educators strive to give them

the accommodations that they need or discover the accommodations a student has needed

and promotes their success. I love being able to witness and be a part of helping students with

their academic work and encouraging their growth mindset. When valued, students will walk

the halls with pride and embrace these experiences elsewhere. Students should be able to see

their own success by gaining new knowledge and applying it in their daily lives. 

I have observed through my experience that students learn best when they can

experience what they are learning – therefore, both virtual and physical field trips will be part

of my teaching. I want my students to walk into my classroom that opens their minds to

possibilities and adventure much like the classrooms I help in today. I will construct knowledge

and learning through experiences, building on my students’ prior knowledge. My experience in

and out of the classroom has allowed me to visualize my future classroom - it will be structured
My Educational Philosophy 6

in such a way that routines and procedures will be set in place and valued, and respect will be

reciprocated both in and out of the classroom. 

“Classroom environment is one of the most important factors affecting student

learning,” (Young, n.d.) - a positive environment allows a student to acquire an appreciation for

learning. Students should, “feel a sense of belonging, trust others, and feel encouraged to

tackle challenges, take risks, and ask questions” (Young, n.d.). By “harnessing the power of

emotions” I can “foster effective learning and transform the experience of my students”

(Young, n.d.) I will create this positive environment by boosting their self-esteem as I learn their

names and welcome them into my classroom each morning with enthusiastic greetings. I will

display my student’s artwork on the walls of the classroom, have flexible seating, and include a

bulletin board for students to attach pictures of their family and pets where they are able to

embrace their cultural differences. I will allow my students time during the day to share about

themselves or their weekend adventures, I will say no to any form of bullying, and I will

promote two-way respect. Simple routines, strategies, and structures do not take much time to

implement and will yield immeasurable results (Young, n.d.).

Through a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere, students will be able to associate

value, respect, and success with education and learning. Teachers who demonstrate positive

reinforcement and hard work will set great examples that students will look back on and value.

Such an environment will help students master skills that will benefit them academically and

through real-world applications. Students will not associate themselves with failure, but with

merit and self-confidence. Therefore, creating in them, without any force, a desire and

appreciation for the daily activity of learning.

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My goal is to be an educator that makes an impact in each of my students’ lives and to

have a classroom environment that creates possibility and capability inside their hearts. I hope I

can give my students something to look forward to as we learn throughout our daily lives and

encourage them to always give their best and work diligently. Through engaging lessons, hands-

on learning, collaborative discussions, and higher-order thinking my students will create a

desire in themselves to appreciate learning and all that it offers. If I can help my students fall in

love with learning, I will have accomplished much more than good grades and quality teacher-

student relationships, and I will have fulfilled far more than 180 school days.

Teaching is seen as a noble profession in that educators have the ability to touch the

lives of individuals. I hope to enter this noble profession and I hope to be a good teacher. A.P.J.

Abdul Kalam was an Indian scientist and politician who believed everyone is unique and that

everyone should have the perseverance to never give up. He once said, “Teaching is a very

noble profession that shapes the character, caliber, and future of an individual. If the people

remember me as a good teacher, that will be the biggest honor for me.” Like, A.P.J. Abdul, I will

persevere through the obstacles, I will work hard, and I will not give up on thriving to be a good

teacher that is remembered for shaping the character, caliber, and future of my students.
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References

A Pass Educational Group, LLC. (2015, September 12). 7 Ways to Create a Student Centered

Classroom. Retrieved from: https://apasseducation.com/education-blog/7-ways-to-

create-a-student-centered-classroom/

Intext: (A Pass Educational Group, LLC, 2015)

ASCD. (n.d.). Meeting the Needs of Our Students and Our Educators. Retrieved from:

https://inservice.ascd.org/meeting-the-needs-of-our-students-and-our-educators/

Intext: (ASCD, n.d.)

Young, J. (n.d.). Encouragement in the Classroom. Retrieved from:

http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/sf114049/chapters/The-Importance-of-a-

Positive-Classroom.aspx

Intext: (Young, n.d.)

McLeod, S. (2019, July 17). Constructivism as a theory for teaching and learning. Retrieved 

from: https://www.simplypsychology.org/constructivism.html

Intext: (McLeod, 2019)