Philosophy of Education

 I believe that every child, regardless of his or her background, is entitled to a high -
quality education. As an educator, it is my responsibility to provide each child with this quality
of education that is supported with rich experiences, various instructional methods, and real-
world application. I must deliver instruction with passion, knowledge, and motivation so each
child can acquire a love of learning that will last a lifetime. Each and every child is so unique and
special. With this in mind, every child learns differently and requires something different from
me to promote their success academically, emotionally, and socially. I will work towards
ensuring that my instruction targets all students of different backgrounds culturally and
economically. I will plan and execute lessons that reach both the differing instructional levels
and learning styles of my students. Education is not one size fits all – it needs to be catered to
fit the needs of the students in the given class and can change drastically from year to year.

Along with tailoring instruction to meet the needs of the individual students, I believe
that unless content is meaningful to students, they won’t remember it long term. When
teaching content in the classroom, instruction needs to relate to something that is meaningful
to the student. In order to maximize the effectiveness of every lesson, I will center many
lessons on discovery learning by providing hands-on experiences and in-depth discussions in
both small group and whole group settings. Students need to learn through doing so they can
construct their own knowledge and apply it to something that is meaningful to them. Students
will not remember the textbook page but will instead remember the time that they were able
to apply that learning to a real-world scenario, ingraining those ideas in their minds through
application. I will also encourage students to interact with their families outside of class
regarding what they have learned in order to gain multiple points-of-view and solidify that
knowledge by sharing it with others. Through these practices, students will be able to see
firsthand the value of their classroom knowledge.

In addition, I believe that a solid foundation in reading and writing is an extremely

important factor in the success of a student as he or she cannot be successful in the future
without this strong foundation. I will provide ample opportunities for students to read books
that they are interested in, and to write about their own experiences, create their own stories,
and explore their individual voices through writing. Allowing students to take ownership of
their learning boosts students’ confidence and encourages them to continue learning. This
freedom of choice can also create lifetime lovers of reading and writing, as students discover
that these activities are not painful, but enjoyable. I hope to be able to show and share my love
of reading with my students, sharing in the dialogue with them about a good book.
 Most importantly of all, I believe that educators must provide a safe, collaborative
learning environment for students. Students should feel comfortable expressing ideas and
thoughts in school without fearing ridicule or negative repercussions. In order to establish a
safe haven in my classroom, I will ensure that a strong community is fostered in the classroom. I
will model this myself by showing kindness, compassion, understanding, and acceptance to my
students. We will take time to share in victories, but also time to regroup and discuss the
downfalls to improve upon for next time. The students will learn about each other and establish
commonalities but also understand what makes each of them different and unique. This will
ultimately provide respect for one another while creating a unique and diverse learning
environment inspired by the different cultures and lifestyles that exist within the walls of our
school and in our local community.

Teaching is far more than just instructing students in the content areas of reading,
writing, math, science, and social studies; an educator is the one who shapes lives and
ultimately prepares students for the real world ahead. For many students in the classroom,
their teacher is the one constant, positive, supportive person that they so need and cherish in
their lives. With this being said, it is the job of the teacher to provide students with a safe
learning community that they can flourish both cognitively and emotionally. While providing
warmth and comfort to the students, it is also the job of the teacher to inspire students to push
new limits, spark curiosity, and allow them the pathways to be themselves, expressing their
own individuality. The job of an educator goes far beyond the four walls of the classroom; the
educator’s duty and influence surrounds and infiltrates our daily lives.