Personal Philosophy 1

Personal Philosophy of Education

Elizabeth Walsingham

Introduction to Education 201

Thurs. Nov.16, 2017

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Personal Philosophy of Education

Elizabeth Walsingham

My Personal Philosophy of Education will be about why I chose to become a teacher,

which educational philosophy orientations most closely fit my beliefs that will serve me, which

instructional strategies I will implement in the classroom, and what characteristics and skills I

need to possess in order to continue in this career.

Profession

I chose to become a teacher because I want to help those who are struggling with learning

or are in need of some help, and also because I want to put a smile on childrens faces when they

achieve something. I want to make a huge impact on education and those who will one day also

make a difference in others lives.

My mother inspires me to become a teacher, from the moment I was in Kindergarten

when she started teaching. Every day after school, I would walk over to her first grade classroom

and watch her tutor the low students. It was an experience that I will never forget because I

remember her students actually improving in their areas, from the tutor sessions by my mother.

She had a huge impact on her students, and it made me think to myself, If I do the same when I

become a teacher, I could possibly make a difference.

Another experience that inspired me was whenever I was in high school with my English

teacher. I had a hard time passing the class, and one day my English teacher called me over to

her desk and told me that I could stay in her classroom after school for her help, as much as I

want, just so I could boost my grade. I became a better student academically. The teacher helped

me that she cared about me and took her students academics and education seriously. She also
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made me want to become a teacher and make a huge difference in students lives. If a student

needs extra help after school, I will make it happen and try my hardest at boosting them

academically.

Many teachers have their personal knowledge that serves them. When I become a teacher,

the knowledge I will use in my classroom is to teach in an organized way. If I notice a student

who needs the most help with a specific subject, I will pull him or her aside and help that student

until he or she gains enough knowledge in his or her low area. An additional part of my personal

knowledge that will serve me in the classroom is to discipline my students in an effective way. If

I have a student who talks during my lecture, I will be kind and talk to the student in a kind way

instead of yelling at him or her.

My field observation made me understand that there are different types of learners in

each student. When a student is struggling, I have to be patient with him or her. Patience is the

key to success. Also, my field observation made me understand that there is a set schedule every

day. For example, at 9:00 am until 10:00 am, the students do calendar time which is learning the

day and month. Also, they do phonics and sound out letters. It is extremely important to have a

set schedule implemented in the classroom, because without a schedule, the whole class would

not be organized, which could possibly lead to failure in learning for the students.

Teaching

I have a couple of educational philosophy and psychological orientations that fit my

current beliefs about education. The first one is Progressivism. I believe that if a student learns
on his or her own, or works on homework without any help, that student will learn much better.
In school, I remember working in groups and getting help from my teacher, and I was not able to
understand the material at all. However, when I worked independently, I was able to grasp the
material much better, and it led to me receiving fantastic grades. The last philosophical
orientation that fits me and my beliefs is Behaviorism. I believe that behavior is an important
aspect in someones life and it becomes who they are in the future. If a student misbehaves in
class, that student will not learn much in class. He or she will struggle in the future and might
end up making terrible choices in the long-run, such as the choice to drop out of high school,
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drugs, drink alcohol, etc. when I become a teacher, I will take behavior in the classroom very
seriously.
There are a few historical events that set the stage for how I will think about children and
schools. The first one is forced schooling. Nowadays, students are forced to attend school to
learn. If a student misses an entire week of school, Child Protective Services will question that
childs family. Also, missing a whole week of school will effect that childs learning and grades.
Another historical event that sets the stage for how I will think about children and schools is the
Plessy V. Ferguson court case. It was a case that ended racial segregation within the school
system and students. I believe that it is important, as an educator, to treat everyone equally no
matter their race. I will not separate anyone, and I will treat everyone equally because we are all
the same, and we all deserve the same education.
Instruction

In a classroom, it is very important to use instructional strategies because it makes

students focus better and learn more. There are a few strategies that I will use in the classroom.

The first one is student self-assessment. If a child is struggling in a particular area, I will get

together with the child and teach the material and lesson until he or she improves drastically. It is

important to do one-on-one assessments, because if that student is not able to learn in a

classroom setting with whole groups, that student will not achieve in that area. Another

instructional strategy I will implement is hands-on learning. Hands-on learning is a fun strategy

to use in the classroom. The students will learn better and grasp the material in an easier and

faster way. For science, I will have the students do hands-on learning for everything, such as

labs. Last but not least, another instructional strategy I will implement is music and songs. Using

music in the classroom gets the children to participate, such as moving around and interacting

with other students. For example, we are all dancing on the carpet, and I play a math song. The

students will have a lot of fun by moving and dancing and learning addition and subtraction at

the same time.

For student diversity, I will work on the students ability to use more thinking skills, as

much as possible. For instance, reading to them will help them understand situations like historic

eras and cultural diversity. For assessment, I will arrange students in groups from high
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performing to low performing groups. I will place the low performing students in a different

classroom, so they are able to focus better.

Future

There are a couple of characteristics that I need to possess in order to continue in

education. The first one is to obtain more patience. Right now, I have very little patience towards

kids. I decided to get a job at a daycare to improve my patience. For example, I work with the

three year olds, and most of them run around the classroom instead of sitting at tables. They are

not allowed to run around, so I gain more patience by addressing them and having them sit

down.

Another characteristic I need to possess is to be a better listener. When I was seven years

old, I got diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and sometimes, my

attention span is extremely short and it effects my listening. Today, I am improving my listening

abilities by engaging in conversations.

There are a few steps that will take me to achieve my goals and the requirements for

teacher licensure. The first step that I will take (have taken) to achieve my goals for teacher

licensure is work at a daycare. Daycares are good practice for patience in the classroom. I

currently work at a daycare, and I am gaining patience towards kids.

The next one is to become a full-time substitute teacher after I receive my sixty credits at

the community college. I want to gain experience in the classroom, such as teaching lessons and

material to students and handing out assignments and reading lesson plans in an effective way

before I become a teacher. When I become a teacher I would like to teach third or fourth grade.

The last step is to volunteer at schools by observing classrooms. I believe that it is extremely
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important to observe teachers as much as I can because I will gain a lot of knowledge as a

teacher and implement their teaching styles in the classroom.

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