Philosophy of Teaching
Understanding the purpose of education is of astronomical importance because learning is a part of our nature. We are lifelong learners, meaning that every day we will encounter new experiences, ideas, emotions, and people, and we will never stop learning from those encounters. Education is so much more than just academia. It equips us from a young age to learn well, taking new experiences and figuring out how to handle them and apply them to our lives. Those learning experiences are so special because the knowledge we acquire from them can never be taken away from us and we can use it throughout our entire lives. Education also transforms us into active members of society who work towards the betterment of the world. This process begins with childhood education by nurturing children into a realization of who they are and what they are capable of doing. As a result of general education, we find our interests and determine specifically how our future can be best used for the good of the world.
Once we understand why education is so important, we can see exactly how learning occurs. First and foremost, a student should know why they are being taught the things they are being taught. Children should see education not just as busy work or a way of passing through childhood, but as the communication of matters that affect them personally and affect the world as well. Concepts are fully grasped only when we have an understanding of how they are applicable to life. A person’s ability to then communicate those concepts on their own is also a sign of total understanding. Learning is also much more than the memorization of ideas or concepts. Critical thinking is necessary to learn the true meaning behind a concept, so our students must be taught how to think with a mindset based on application and deeper understanding. As students develop cognitively, the ability to use this type of application will develop as well. Higher order thinking skills will be the mark of a student that has connected with his education and is actively applying it to the world beyond the classroom.
My students will spend more time with me than they will with their own parents, so it is very important to me that they feel comfortable, safe, and ready to learn when around me and in my classroom. My classroom will be a place in which children are excited to spend their days. It will be an environment that fosters learning, while giving children the freedom to grow. It will be organized and disciplined, but not uptight. I want children to be excited about learning, so my classroom will be balanced between an educational atmosphere and a comfortable and fun atmosphere. My classroom will be encouraging and uplifting, so no child feels intimidated or inadequate when in the learning environment. I want my students to have a memorable experience in my classroom so they leave it knowing they learned something they will carry with them forever. I also want my classroom to foster creativity, giving children freedom to express themselves using the concepts we study in class. I value imagination, and allowing students freedom to use it is one of the greatest gifts we can give them. I will also promote forward thinking by looking for ways to collaborate new technology and learning techniques with the way students learn. I want them to be advanced in their thinking and abilities in a way that adds value to their education. As a teacher, I hope that I am able to communicate with my students just how valuable a good education is, and I hope that I can teach them to love learning the way that I do.