Philosophy Statement
I expect the best out of myself and strive toward success with a passion
that is evident to those around me. I am dedicated in the pursuit to reach my fullest
potential as a teacher. My objectives include engaging and encouraging each
student to learn more about their internal and external environment. To
accomplish this, the class culture must allow the student to explore the issues
relevant to their life.
Students hold within themselves the great potential of learning. As a
teacher, it is my goal to bring out that potential in each individual. If I am to
succeed, there are several processes that must occur. The first process is to provide
a classroom that is conducive to learning. Learning has the most success in an
environment that is physically and socially positive. Physically, the school must
have the facilities, equipment and classrooms that are clean and secure with a
social environment that is positive and pleasant.
As a teacher I will strive to create an environment in my classroom where
students know they can freely speak their opinions and express feelings without
having to worry about what their peers may say. Each person is unique, and within
the class culture, respect for each other is expected.
The second process to create an effective learning environment is to
provide opportunities for students to address concerns in their lives. An effective
way to capture the attention of the student, and have them reveal the curiosity that
is within them, is to discuss the issues that interest them. Teenagers have many
questions about society, values, life, careers, and their futures. They should have
the opportunity to address these questions and freely discuss them in an open
forum. School is not only a place for learning information; it is also a place for
maturing.
The final process is providing a learning environment that 1) promotes
the active involvement of the students, and 2) promotes the active involvement of
parents, staff, and community.
Students learn exceptionally well from exploring their interests. If a topic
or issue is related to the class assignment, students should have the opportunity to
investigate what attracts them the most through projects and activities. It is the
mere fact that they have become actively involved in their own learning that allows
them to get the most out of their education.
By far, students can learn the most from experiences with others, not
from lectures. Students learn from their peers when they do work together;
explaining the concepts and facts to each other reinforces what they have learned.
Students also learn from the students, staff, and parents on their campus through
activities, clubs, and sports. Extra-curricular activities provide an arena for students
to extend their learning in a setting that may involve more teamwork, leadership,
and social interaction.
Students learn not only from their peers and teachers, but from their
parents as well. Parents need to be involved in the students’ learning at home.
Parents have such an influence on their children, and if parents encourage the
education of their children, then the children will experience greater success in
learning. A simple positive acknowledgement by a parent of their child’s progress
in school can have lasting effects on the motivation of a student’s interest in school.
Students’ learning, finally, extends to the community. If the community
that the students live in supports the learning of the students, the students will
experience an abundance of knowledge. There are various jobs, volunteer
positions, and apprenticeships within a community that a student may learn from.
These activities provide a place for the students to apply the knowledge they have
learned at school and home. Community members can act as mentors to the
teenagers that are eager to find role models, and experience the real world for
themselves.
A student’s education should not end as soon as they depart the campus,
nor do I believe a teacher’s job should stop at the campus. A school is a part of
every community and serves an important role within our society. Communities
have established educational facilities and hired trained educators. Communities
have entrusted the educators with their most precious gift, their children. With this
said, if I am to succeed as an educator, then I must also involve the parents in the
education of their children. As a teacher, I may not be able to directly control what
occurs at the home, but I feel that it is my responsibility to establish positive
relationships with the parents of my students, inform them on the progress of their
children, and encourage the parents to be active in the education of their children.
As a teacher, I must also engage the community to become more involved
in the growth of our community’s children. As a teacher, I can create a positive
learning environment to the students that extends from the classroom by
establishing, yet again, positive relationships with members outside the campus,
inviting guest speakers, cultivating mentorship’s, and holding field trips to local
sites.
I have discussed the processes for creating a positive learning
environment; I would like to also address my philosophy of teaching within the
classroom. The manner in which a teacher instructs his/her students will play a
vital role in their education. I have discovered that my style of teaching falls in line
most often with the progressive and perennial thinkers. This progressive and
perennial style of teaching will appear through my curriculum. I feel that my style
is progressive because I believe that students should develop problem solving
abilities, they should feel stimulated to become active learners, and the students
should learn by discovering the issues that are real problems relevant their own
lives.
I also believe that I have a perrenialist style of teaching mixed in with
progressivism and must develop problem-solving abilities in my students; to assist
in their discovery there exists wisdom in the past. There are countless truths, much
wisdom, and important ethics and values to learn from ancient texts and much to
learn from the truths and values that have been passed on from the past, and they
must not be forgotten.
My style will also address within my field the roles of the following: 1)
society’s needs 2) the demands of the work world 3) democratic traditions 4) basic
skills 5) multi-cultural education, and 6) individual fulfillment.
Society’s needs are met within my classroom every day. The social
sciences offer a wonderful opportunity to view how our society functions. History
classes tell the tale of how people have interacted with each other in the past. So
much is to be gained from the mistakes and accomplishments of the societies from
the past and present. By examining various societies, a student can have a better
understanding of what makes each society function and what makes it fail.
Students have the chance to increase their awareness of their local surroundings
and even the societies of the world, and then develop the ability to identify the
issues that require social action. The students learn to become active citizens
within their society and world.
In the social sciences the demands of the work world are addressed as
well. Classes in history, economics, and government are invaluable to the student
entering the work place. These classes can become extremely relevant to a student
when trying to understand taxes, business, and the laws that govern the work place,
for example.
By far one of the most important aspects of the curriculum is the passing
on of democratic traditions. This nation is one of the few that have the luxury of so
many freedoms based on our democratic government. In order to sustain this
democracy it must continue to be taught to the students. Students must learn the basis for democracy and why our nation is governed under democracy. John
Dewey, a progressive thinker, believed that a democratic education is the basis of
democracy. Democracy must not only be taught, but also practiced within the
classroom.
The basic skills for each student must be reinforced. Athletes train for
hours, several days a week to strengthen their skills. Often athletes return to the
basics to allow their advanced skills to develop. Reading and writing are two basic
skills that are continuously trained in the social science classroom. The ability to
take information and process it to formulate opinions and decisions are
strengthened by training the basics of reading and writing. From these basics the
students will be better able to express themselves in persuasive papers, debate, and
participate in research. It fosters the ability of each student to plan and carry out
activities and research papers.
Multi-cultural education is inevitable within the social science
classroom. My role of the social science classroom is to allow students to gain an
understanding of many cultures’ ethical and moral commitments by studying their
religion, philosophy, folkways, and traditions. By looking at societies that are
unfamiliar to us, we gain the insight to how others act and think, and we notice
how we are similar and different.
Finally, by closely viewing all these issues mentioned above, the students
gain greater insight to self-actualization. Students should be encouraged to find out
who they are and what kind of person they are. The social science classroom
should allow students to explore their own identity while examining the identities
of others. Students begin to develop their character and they begin to mature.
They find pride in their uniqueness and respect for the uniqueness of others.
The goals and responsibilities that I have laid out for myself are
overwhelming. There comes with my teaching a lot of thought, time, effort, and
love, but I would not ask for anything less. I look upon this as challenge and an honor. I have the great distinction of playing an important role in the lives of teens,
parents, teachers, and community members.
