Educational Goals and Philosophy
As a child, playing “school” occupied most of my time. My younger sister and I taught a bedroom full of stuffed animals and filled in imaginary names in our old school books. From the bad bears and loud bunnies to the good puppies and smart kittens, each stuffed animal possessed his or her own personality.
The thought of teaching never entered into my mind when I was asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Uncertain about the career field that I desired to pursue, my decisions depended upon the topics that held my interest at the time. Paleontology was the first career I decided on, then marine biology. In high school, it was mandatory that I select a career cluster in which to expand my knowledge; I chose architecture and interior design. Up until my senior year of high school, my educational goal for the future consisted of attending an architecture program at a college or university, but my mind was changed again when I developed a senior research paper and project. The topic of my paper and project was “ministry,” giving me the opportunity to teach the youth group at church and help with the younger kids during a worship service. My youth minister taught me a few teaching techniques and strategies that also broadened my interest in teaching.
Numerous experiences have influenced my decision to become a teacher. One summer I was privileged to get to go to Myrtle Beach and lead a backyard bible school for Pre-K and K aged kids at a family campground. Crating unique ways of teaching kindergarten kids with short attention spans challenges the teacher, forcing me to use my imagination. In search of opening up a Canadian child who...
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...the future students are different from earlier ones. In today's classroom, kids can operate a computer while their teachers cannot, thus limiting computer access learning for students. Although they are unfamiliar with computers, many teachers are learning from their students, and are using online services to expand the learning process in the classroom. Another article explained that many of today's schools are requiring computer certification for their teachers. If teachers cannot keep up with the technology that kids are "playing" with, they will not be able to effectively teach the children of tomorrow's generation.
Teaching is not just about Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic; it is the desire to make a difference in at least one child's life. By giving a child a chance at life, a teacher is giving the world a chance to become a better place.
N.T. Wright: During my first semester at Northwestern College, I was assigned the book, “The Challenge of Jesus” by N.T. Wright for one of my Biblical Studies courses. This book and every other book Tom Wright has written has dramatically impacted my Christian faith. Dr. Wright has not only defended the basic tenants of the Christian faith, but also has shown how an academically-minded pastor ought to love and care for his or her congregants. N.T. Wright was previously the Bishop of Durham and pastored some of the poorest in the United Kingdom. His pastoral ministry has helped shape his understanding of God’s kingdom-vision which he is diagramming within his magnum opus “Christian Origins and the Question of God”. This series has instructed myself and countless other pastors to be for God’s kingdom as we eagerly await Christ’s return. Additionally, I have had the privilege of meeting with N.T. Wright one-on-one on numerous occasions to discuss faith, the Church, and his research. I firmly believe Tom Wright is the greatest New Testament scholar of our generation and he is the primary reason why I feel called into ministry.
N.T. Wright’s book, The Challenge of Jesus, challenges the reader in various aspects of his or her life; including faith, understanding and inspiration. The reader is able to view Jesus in a different context. Within this viewpoint, Wright almost presents a time traveling experience in order to understand their world and the historical context of Jesus’ time. When grasping Wright’s purpose and argument in this book, the reader can presume that the thesis is essentially the title. Jesus presents his followers a challenge, it is comprehended best in the essence of who Jesus is, not just who we understand him to be. In the preface of Wright’s book he states three specific purposes, they include, “the historical integrity in talking about Jesus, Christian discipleship that professes to follow Jesus, and providing Christians with a vision that will transform the world” (Wright 10-11). I believe that Wright’s purpose for writing this book was to empower Christians to impact the world with love and to live out the gospel in our every day lives.
This essay attempts to discuss the competing aims of education whether they be academic, vocational or even purely enabling students to be virtuous. Marples (2010), “What is Education for?”, and Hand (2010), “What should go on the Curriculum?” provide much of the initial insight into the formation of my personal view on the competing aims of education
Richard Louv explains how people can find “freedom, fantasy, and privacy… a separate peace” (7) in nature. Many researchers are becoming aware of the positive effects nature can provide. Previous generations often tell stories of their childhood; stories about running around in fields or woods. They talk about how it gave them feelings of euphoria and freeness. Nowadays, rarely will one hear of today’s children telling similar stories. With more time being spent indoors, doing homework, and using technology, there are fewer kids enjoying the wonders of the outdoors. Studies have shown that children, and people in general, should spend more time in nature. Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods discusses how people are negatively affected without exposure to nature; there are vital steps that individuals, communities, and the nation can take to help with nature-deficit disorder.
Fin de siècle is a term which is now used to refer to the period of the last 40 or so years of the Nineteenth Century and its art, yet at the time the word had genuine sociological connotations of modernity, social decay and reaction. In France in particular though arguably throughout Europe, society was changing in such a way as to merit such a pessimistic term for the trend evolving. The growing ability for the mass of the people to access all areas of society, previously only available to an appreciative elite coupled with the growing crime rate and visible decline of this elite are factors of this social phenomenon. The modernist writers, typically the youthful offspring of the old elites, certainly used fin de siècle as a theme. There is evidence of a conflict with the concept of fin de siècle, but it is too simple to say that they displayed a fear of fin de siècle. As I will try to show in this essay, the modernist reaction to and interpretation of fin de siècle is not static and, as though proportional to the development of modernity as an aesthetic, develops through works of varying mediums by different authors over the period identified as 'modernist'.
The South seceded for two main reasons; the first being states rights to become slave states. Long before the Civil War began, states argued about the power of, State and Federal Government. The original Constitution prohibited slavery but slave states practiced their right to declare laws "Null and Void". States had the power to decide which laws they followed, without this rule and State power over Federal the slave states would be forced to follow and release their slaves. Even the Founding Fathers did not follow the no slave law in Constitution.Washington was the only Founding Father to free his slaves on his death bed. When the North leaning toward the abolishment slavery, the South became nervous. The Southerns were worried about their everyday lives being altered by the abolishing of slavery. The Missouri Comprise made all the new territories free states, meaning the Southern slave states would soon be outnumbered in congress. Another of the South's reason for succession was their fear of an economic collapse due to the abolishment ...
The stylistic plurality of twentieth-century art - a plurality that Andre Malraux calls the ‘imaginary museum’ of stylistic heterodoxy in The Voices of Silence, leaves it open to various interpretations by writers as well as commentators. However, disposed to the apocalyptic view of history, the most remarkable feature of the age is its pessimism and despair. The modernist writer occupied a worl...
The opening passage from Joyce’s ‘Portrait of the artist as a young man’ sketches out elements of the human consciousness, and entraps an essence of the internal voice. Joyce rebelled against conventions of the novel, destabilizing the standard writing style of authoritative third person narrative, electing to focalise on the individual subjective consciousness. This essay aims to explore Joyce’s use of the subjective consciousness to capture human experience, and discusses the complex aesthetic technique involved. Baudelaire’s early sense of modernity as the ‘transient’ and ‘fleeting’ will be engaged in order to analyse the short lived nature of experience and thoughts.
Through my own experiences, and as enforced by others' opinions in the profession, I have found that teaching is one of the most rewarding careers. Not only are you placed in the position of instructing and guiding children and young adults through the life long learning process, but you are able to give back to the schools and communities which have supported your early education and experiences that opened you up to a bright future. In becoming an educator, I hope to someday share the knowledge and lend the helping, supportive hand that I was once given, allowing students to formulate their own perspectives of the multicultural society and world around them. Teaching is a career I have been interested in pursuing throughout high school, and as my experiences and study in the field expands, I feel that my desire to teach will grow stronger and develop more soundly.
4:13). This hope is only available to the believers, for it is a reciprocal relationship between the Christian and Christ. Christian 's’ hope is not wishful thinking they will go to heaven, but a firm assurance that God has promised to be with them in this life, and to give them eternal life in heaven when they die. Our hope is confident because we have eternal life (Titus 1:2;3:7); our salvation is secure (1 Thess. 5:8). We will meet Christ at His appearing (Titus 2:13); our bodies will be resurrected (Acts 23:6; 26:6-7). And our bodies will be transformed and glorified to live with God forever (Phil. 3:21; 1 Cor. 15:51-59) (Towns, pg. 151). Biblical hope is a reality and not a feeling. Biblical hope carries no doubt. Biblical hope is a sure foundation upon which we base our lives, believing that God always keeps His promises. Hope or confidence assurance can be ours when we trust His word so, there must be no wavering, and doubting. You must trust God to do what he says He will do. Doubt is a distraction from the enemy. Put your foot down on the thoughts and actions that Satan tries to use to deceive you. Satan is powerful, But He is not God! He may be stronger than most all created beings, but he must stand mute when the Almighty God of the universe speaks on our behalf (Praxis: Beyond Theory, Pg. 206). Your hope will carry you through circumstances and situation that doubt will leave you stranded. Let’s encourage one another to continue doing good for the sake of the kingdom. When it comes to raising our kids with a biblical foundation, we’re not in it alone. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thes
As we reminisce and reflect back either on our childhood or academic career, we tend to have that one teacher who was memorable to us in some way - for their sense of humor, their stellar personality, or perhaps having that charisma and charm no other teacher had to make a difficult subject and it 's concepts fun to learn. While knowledge is power, I firmly believe that it is rather the exchange and distribution of knowledge that is power. When one can educate the masses there is no doubt that together we can accomplish great things. Becoming a teacher would mean the opportunity to be able to witness the shaping and molding of the minds of the future generations and the satisfaction knowing that you have helped your students set themselves onto the right path and provide guidance towards the creation of a better tomorrow. Choosing to become a teacher will allow me not only to educate my students, but also educate myself to be a better teacher throughout my career. I believe it is a function of human nature to want to change the world for the better. In adulthood, I have learned that the improvement of the welfare of the world must begin with
Since I was 12, I knew I wanted to work with children. I thought about being a pediatrician or social worker; but upon self-reflection, I knew I did not fit those molds. After years of teaching in schools and camps, I realized teaching was the field for me.
Today, schools are being pressured more and more to improve the technology they use and teach in the classrooms. Parents are placing this pressure on schools so that their students have the skills needed to compete in the real world job market. Students are placing pressure on the schools to improve technology by having more knowledge of
“Teaching is often a difficult process, but the end result is very rewarding. Watching a child develop confidence and seeing a student progress in their studies is a very exciting process. Teaching young children is especially great because it is setting a foundation for life-long learning.”(Chronicle guidance publications). What is teaching? A teacher is a person who provides education for pupils (children), or students (adults) using lectures, audiovisual aids, demonstrations, and computers to present academic, social, and motor skills. Teachers can also teach foreign languages, art, kids with special needs, and P.E. Teaching has changed a lot compared to the traditional methods of just lectures and textbooks. Students now are encouraged to actively learn through groups or individual projects. They have learning games, debates, and experiments to help them through the learning process. Being a teacher would be a great career for anyone who wants to further themselves, to help people, and to have great benefits (chronicle guidance publications).
As time goes by, advances in technology will provide more and more avenues for learning by way of the computer. The Internet has opened the doors of the world and unleashed limitless possibilities in research and education. It may be only a matter of time when the classroom is brought online to all children and attending a school classroom outside the home is a thing of the past. Looking back over the last 20 years, I never would have imagined that computers would come this far and impact our lives so much. Just imagine where they will be 20 years from now.