Educational+Philosophy

I believe that the education of our youth determines the future of our democracy. An educated citizen can contribute to the political, economic, and moral make-up of our society. The purpose of education is to teach students to participate in our community, to think for themselves, to problem-solve, and to react to the world around us. I believe that a good education can teach each individual student to realize their role in society. The role of an educator is to assist in bringing about these goals. As a teacher, I will strive to mold students with these qualities, not through coercion, but through care. I will attempt to bring importance to their studies by making learning relevant and interesting. This is no easy task. Students today are a diverse population, who come from a variety of different backgrounds, with different learning styles, intelligences, interests, and life situations. A teacher must be able to reach each of these individual students on their personal levels, and I will attempt this by reaching out to them through their parents and community. In order to reach the students with learning material, an educator must develop individual relationships with the students. A great educator strives to connect on a personal level with his or her students, to show them that they truly care about the success of each student, and aiding them is recognizing their potential. I believe that students learn best in a structured environment, when they know what is expected of them. I will do this by stressing respect in and out of the classroom, and showing by example respectful behavior and manners. I will accomplish this by creating a positive learning environment, treating each student with respect and expecting them to do the same. Yet in my classroom, I will also allow students to express their opinions in order to enhance their learning experience. A great educator is aware of the different learning styles of children today, and is careful to plan lessons that appeal to students of different intelligences and learning styles. I know that the best assessments are not typical tests, of multiple-choice questions but rather assignments and projects that apply the subject matter to real life situations. I will attempt to use other methods of assessments such as problem solving activities and project-based learning.  As an educator, I must be constantly adapting to the changes in the students. I must teach by example that life is an ongoing learning experience, and I will apply those experiences to my teaching. I want each of my students to finish their time in my classroom understanding more than simply the mathematical concepts that we will have studied. I want them to develop important life skills that they will carry with them for years to come.