My Philosophy and Week 1 Reflections

Well, here it is!  I managed to start a blog, after insisting I would do it for many years now.  Below you will find my educations philosophy.  Finally having it down in writing provides me to opportunity to formally review it and add to it as I learn.  I think blogging is definitely a new way for me to communicate with those linked to my life.  I hope to use my blog with the parents of my students in the future.  Steven Downes' article on blogging was interesting and brought up some important points.  As the use of blogging increases, our students will be more in tune with the capabilities of technology.  I don't think we have reached our true potential with the uses of technology and incorporating them into education.  Students shouldn't be forced to blog about specific topics, rather they should be encouraged to use blogging as more of an outlet and journal. (As it was originally intended)  Alan November wrote in his article, Creating a New Culture of Teaching and Learning, that writing lesson plans for technology should be thrown out.  This really stood out to me.  It seems that we don't let anything just happen anymore.  Is education ever going to become student-led like we preach it should be?  Our students should be encouraged to set standards for themselves, and with the right motivation, they will set the bar even higher than we ever could.  Technology should be used in the same sense.  Let the students discover and learn as they go.  It is easier said than done. 

There were a LARGE amount of steps required in this week's assignments, and I hope I have covered them all in good detail.  Unfortunately, it has made me a little leery of technology.  I hope the next few weeks flow a little more smoothly because I'm really looking forward to getting more familiar with technology so I can effectively relay it to my own students.   

That being said, here is my philosophy: 

My Educational Philosophy

             My teaching philosophy is still developing each and every day that I am exposed to the students around me.  I have gained knowledge from so many sources, including the teachers that had a part in my own education. 

 

            The best teacher than I can remember in school was my third grade teacher, Mrs. Garlington.  She was always so enthusiastic about school, and I never remember seeing her without a smile.  Every classroom activity was fun and exciting.  My family struggled a lot while I was young and growing up, but I never felt out of place in her classroom.  She didn’t treat me differently due to the way I dressed, or the supplies I wasn’t able to bring.  She handled the classroom situations in a calm way, and encouraged us in everything we did.  It is the positive demeanor that she had that makes her stand out to me so much.  This isn’t a quality that all teachers possess.  I have witnessed the other realm as well.  The worst teacher I can think of was my ninth grade Biology teacher.  She was always impersonal and critical.  She seemed to be frustrated easily and yelled at the class a lot.  I often wonder if it was a disinterest in the subject matter, or the teacher’s disinterest in the students that made the material less interesting.  I honestly don’t remember much about the curriculum or content that was taught, but the teacher will always stand out to me.  These simple experiences have made it clear to me that a quality teacher has to have compassion for her students and enthusiasm for the content that they teach.  I want to remember this each day in the classroom.  I try to connect with my students before I even begin teaching curriculum.  I feel that they will feel the content is important if they feel valued.  A true enthusiasm for learning can be contagious to the students. 

            Even with my limited experience, I feel that I mostly fit under the philosophy of Constructivism when it comes to considered whether learning should be student-centered of teacher-directed.  I feel that when students can lead the learning, they feel more valued and in control of their learning.  I feel that learning should take place around real world situations that are hands on, rather than predetermined worksheets and agendas.  I also feel that Pragmatism suites me in some ways because problem solving is an important concept to teach our students.  I strive to teach my students that their social conflicts can be solved if they right approach is taken.  They need to learn how to socialize and resolve their own conflicts without the constant interference of the teacher or adults. 

            I chose to be a teacher because I enjoy those simple little moments with students when I can see that they have been truly enlightened.  I enjoy myself when I am in the presence of my students and I enjoy the connections that I make with them.  I feel that I am making a difference in the world and they are truly our future.  I teach the way I do because I feel that students need to be educated by teachers who care about their future.  During the first week of school, I try to make a connection with my students and bond with them.  I want them to feel important and valued.  I also want them to know that education is important.  I try to spend a large amount of time teaching them that social skills are just as important as learning the curriculum. 

            To me, a great teacher is one who is enthusiastic about teaching and makes their students feel like they are important.  Great teachers encourage their students to succeed.  They are willing to go the extra mile and teach to the whole child.  Great teachers also realize that not all students learn the same; some students need extra time and new strategies.  I had the opportunity to experience a caring teacher during my education and I never forgot this teacher.  She encouraged me each day, and I still remember that. 

             

            I use these teaching methods because I have seen them used successfully in other classrooms by quality teachers.  I have teachers that I can look back to for support and many of the strategies I use come from their encouragement.  Some things have been used and developed over the last year, and even adapted as needed.  I choose strategies that work for each student based on their needs.  The assignments that I choose are based on the needs of my students and their differentiated learning styles.  I try to plan my assignments based on the results of assessments, both formally and informally. 

            Technology is an increasingly growing concept in our schools and is continuing to shape our world.  In order to be a great teacher, I have to incorporate technology across the board.  Last year, I feel that my students had little access to technology.  This year in my classroom, my students will be able to use simple computer processes, ipads, and a smart board.  We will use several engaging and hands on activities with technology.  These activities will be incorporated into the content and developed around the curriculum.  We have classroom computers that will be open for student use each and every day.  I will invited parents to expose their second graders to technology at home with suggestions of websites and online games.  I would also like to put together simple discs for my students throughout the year that can be used on the computer. 

            When my students leave my classroom at the end of the year, I want them to feel a sense of accomplishment.  They should feel like they had a goal and their hard work helped them to reach that goal.  I want my students to gain an understanding for their own responsibility and how it affects their own lives and the people around them.  I also want them to understand that it’s okay to learn differently that those around them.  They need to be able to use the strategies that they have learned to process the concepts taught and be able to relay those back to teach others.  My students should feel that I was not just a teacher, but also a mentor, motivator and their safe-house for learning without judgment.