Philosophy Statement

by

Kate Archer

ECC 703
Professor Qiane Dolvin
2/21/19
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I began my journey to become a teacher before I could read and write. It has been a long

and difficult path to get to where I am right now but in the long run it was all worth it. When I

was a little girl, my father told me I was a failure and that I would never succeed in my life.

Many times I wanted to quit because it seemed impossible to overcome my fears. I was afraid for

many years, but later I was told that as long as I put my best effort in everything I do, I will be all

right. The motivation from others helped me to move forward in my academic career. I have

learned one of the most meaningful and important lessons of my life: That it is not too late for

change. As a teacher I want my students to believe in their own value. I believe that teachers can

be an inspiration for students, and I hope that through my own experiences I can teach students

to achieve their goals and never give up, because everyone is capable of excellence.

People are shaped from birth by their environment, first by parents and family.

One of the most important influences becomes their school, including their teachers. Much like

Vygotsky, I believe that the environment plays a central role in the process of making learning

meaningful. Vygotsky thought that learning that occurs in social context fuels development. He

believed that children learn through participation in everyday routines and cultural experiences.

Therefore, I strive to make my classroom a place where students feel comfortable, safe, and

eager to learn. Where students formulate and express opinions, ask questions, and engage in

problem-solving, without fear of disapproval from the teacher or other students. Through

positive reinforcement I want to inspire them to achieve their goals. I give them a chance to

reflect on their lives, engage them in conversations with others, and listen closely to what they

have to say. I give my students many opportunities to show everyone their interests and talents to

make them feel valued and validated. I know that students who are encouraged by teachers will

more likely be engaged, motivated, and confident to approach difficult tasks.

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One of the most important concepts Vygotsky focused on was the zone of proximal

development. It is defined as a difference between what the child can achieve independently and

what they cannot do on their own. He believed that learning occurs in a child’s zone of proximal

development, which serves as a link between what the child can and cannot do. (Lightfoot and

Cole, 2009, p. 22.) The area represents a place for instructional guidance. Vygotsky emphasized

the role of a tutor, someone older than the child, who often acts as a model by modeling behavior

or providing verbal instructions for the child. This modeling Vygotsky called ‘scaffolding’, as it

supports each successive phase of learning. As a teacher, I want to provide such guidance and

support to help my students learn faster and more efficiently.

Today every good teacher contemplates how to create a curriculum that will take into

account the different level of abilities presented by students in their classroom. Differentiated

instructions greatly aids the performance of diverse learners. In my classroom I take into account

students' differences and provide them with different instructions that will meet their individual

needs. I then seek to include all students in a collective learning process by giving them various

opportunities to engage in discussions, brainstorming sessions, and collaborations with others.

The teacher should be a positive role model for students because they learn more from a

teacher than the subject matter being taught. In keeping with Vygotsky, who stated that culture

and social environment have an effect on how children think, in my classroom I promote

tolerance and give a voice to self-expression. My students are encouraged to discuss beliefs and

prejudices as a group, which fosters tolerance. The presence of multiple cultures and cultural

differences within the American society is greatly visible, especially in New York City. I strive

to teach them empathy and to value diversity. I hope that by reading books about amazing and

courageous people they will feel inspired to make a change in the world. I hope to help my
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students break down the walls that isolate and divide people by allowing them to get involve in

the community and bring diverse influences into the classroom. I believe it is important to instill

in children from an early age a tolerance and appreciation for diversity. Learning to analyze

specific aspects of diversed cultures, such as language, traditions, dress, cuisine, social mores,

etc. of people is crucial because it will help them build positive relationships, have good

experiences and be successful in any cultural environment.

As an educator I have strong beliefs of what an ideal education is and how to deliver that

experience to my students, even in small but important ways. A good teacher must create a safe,

supportive and comfortable learning environment. As a teacher I want to acknowledge their

different learning styles and customize my instructions to help them reach their goals. I will

continue to help my students embrace the diversity within their community, give them tools to

discover answers, and enjoy their accomplishments. These beliefs and practices help children

overcome obstacles and achieve maximal learning.

References

Lightfoot, C., Cole, M. (2009). The Development of children (6th ed.). New York: Worth
Publishers.