My Philosophy of Education

My Philosophy of Education

My philosophy of education and my personal goals and theories about how students are empowered through their educational experience revolve around the student-centered, interactive approach to instruction and learning. My goal as an educator is to create a learner-focused environment that promotes the basic literacy skills - reading, writing, listening, speaking and thinking. Children are readers, writers, and thinkers who need language to question and understand. They become members of literate communities using language in real ways for real purposes.

Through my own classroom research, I have learned to listen to children, to observe the multitude of ways in which they learn, and to examine the elements that encourage their growth. Each day must be devoted to writing, reading, and interacting with literature. Children learn to read by reading. They learn to write by writing. Listening to and talking about literature enhances both processes. Children learn to think, to question, to reflect on what they write, read, and listen to in a classroom that allots a significant amount of time to the interaction and practice of these skills. Children make choices as to what to read, what to write, and how to approach a task. These children who make their own decisions take ownership of their learning and are better able to make meaning within their world.

Teacher responses play a critical part in this environment by asking questions to stimulate thinking, and children become adept at generating their own questions and seeking answers. Peers also learn to make enabling responses in a literate community. Children need and deserve these responses; as well as, they need to hear the ideas o...

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...ncourages children to be able to use their learning skills of various disciplines and put to use these skills acquired. Also, it helps children in solving and resolving age appropriate challenges. In doing this, one hopes to instill confidence and foster the child?s ability to see how all aspects of education build up the learner equipping him/her with the necessary knowledge to more forth in education as well as life.

I believe that a teacher should be able to wear many hats with success. We must address each student as an individual and adjust the method of teaching to accommodate the child?s capacity to learn. Building up the student and providing him/her with all the necessary skills of reading, writing, and problem solving will foster and stimulate further learning. The student will ultimately benefit as a productive learner and member of society.