Philosophy of Education My philosophy of education is based on the solid premise that education opens up a world of opportunities for individuals, offering the potentional for a better, sustainable quality of life. Education is instrumental in shaping character, strengthening intellect, and instilling discipline, integrity, hope, and confidence in today's youth. Education is ongoing and arms individuals with the tools necessary to function in society including reading, writing, and arthimetic.
Being a lifelong learner, I have always wanted to share my enthusiasm for education with others. As a person who loves attaining knowledge, I am continually asking questions and am reflective on my teaching style to keep learning and growing. I am always open to the suggestions and advice of others. I truly want to make a positive difference in the lives of our children and wish to guide them along the road of discovery through education. An influence on my teaching philosophy was my 10th grade math teacher. She took the time to tutor me after school, and before Christmas Break, she personally phoned me to tell me not to worry over the break since I had successfully passed a test that increased my grades. That call meant so much to me and influenced me to become the teacher I am today, one who lets her students know that she genuinely cares for them and their success.
Learning occurs on many different levels and can take place immediately or occur over a gradual period of time. In the primary grades, you typically see the learning process appearing before your eyes, as it is written on their faces. I believe that every child is different and learns in many different ways and understand that there are auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners who need to hear, see, and apply material before they can truly conceptually understand certain objectives. As the teacher, I must remain flexible to modify lessons as necessary to reach all learners. Additionally, clear lesson plans that offer several levels of learning, including exercises and games as a way to practice the material learned, is a great starting point to any learning process.
In addition to my flexiblilty, among my greatest strengths are my excellent communication and people skills. I always do what is best for students and have a unique ability to connect with children, finding their strengths and building upon them. I provide opportunities that support students' strengths while encouraging self-esteem and a commitment to learn. It is important that I teach with the philosophy of humor, positive attitude, high expectations, consistency, and fairness. I constantly reflect on what I can do to improve lesson plans and the classroom as a whole, exploring ways to offer more to my students.
When students leave my classroom, I want them to remember me as a truly dedicated teacher who created an interesting and creative atmosphere where they were excited to come to learn. I would like for others to remember me as a teacher who encouraged her students to be the best that they could be and created a nuturing classroom of high expectations. My goal is to create an opportunity for all students to love themselves, respect their peers, and to become lifelong leaners with the genuine belief that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to.