Classroom Observation Report

When thinking about the nature of students, I think about how the students behave. I believe that the behavior of students as a group reflects eclecticism meaning that every child behaves differently although every behavior can be integrated. While doing my observation in a second grade classroom, I have met students that are extremely social and active as well as students who are rather quiet and reserved. Usually when an extremely social child is seated with a quiet child, the quiet child will not say much so the extremely social child will not have anyone to talk to. Sometimes though when the extremely social and active child lines up near the quiet children the noise will start. There will either be a lot of talking or an argument will start. I think that children behave in an eclecticism manner as individuals as well. What I mean by this is that children behave differently according to the situation that they are in. For example, a child who is quiet in class may be rather noisy in the lunchroom or on the playground. They may feel that they are in a controlled environment when they are in the classroom, but feel that they have more freedom to talk with their peers when the teacher doesn’t have all of her attention on one class but on other children from other classes as well.

The two natures of knowledge are relativism and absolutism. Relativism is the thought that values are determined by the interests, perceptions, and desires of each individual. Absolutism is the thought that values exist independently of any human being. This means that whenever a universal value is identified, all people must follow it, or they are acting outside of a life of virtue. I feel that teachers as well ...

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... until I am able to get a full time job teaching. After graduation, I also plan to take some extra classes at night towards a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. I plan on joining the professional group the American Federation of Teachers because it might help me learn more ways to becoming an effective teacher.

My philosophy of education is eclecticism, meaning the components of each philosophy are consistent with one another and can be integrated. For example, I mainly agree with the knowledge of nature absolutism but I can also see the side of relativism as well. The three main philosophies of education I plan on using are essentialism, progressivism, and behaviorism because I feel they all are different but at the same time work well together. Philosophies of education are very important when teaching an elementary classroom.