Philosophy of Education Statement
I believe that each student needs a caring, nurturing, stimulating environment in which to learn. They must feel structured and disciplined, as well. It is my desire to provide this experience to secondary students as they discover who they are and choose their future paths in life. There are several elements that I believe are important to the creation of this environment; 1) Stimulating environments with different teaching techniques, 2) Allowing an open door policy for students while also providing structure and discipline, 3) Creating an environment when learning is desirable.
Not every student learns the same, and as each year goes by, those students who are unable to learn by standard methods fall further and further behind. Eventually, their futures are decided for them. My goal as a secondary teacher would be to provide several techniques and learning options to help each child understand the topic that is being taught. Providing the ability for a student to learn things through hands on methods, as well as visually and through lectures would help establish a base and reinforce items that the student is learning.
Junior High and High School are often referred to as “the worst part” of a student’s life. Everything that happens there has the power to greatly influence that student and push them towards a life of success or a life of crime. Providing an open door policy to all students would give them the ability to go to someone trustworthy and work through a problem they are having. Also, structure and discipline must be a major part of any classroom. Each child needs to learn respect and courtesy for others and their superiors. By providing an environment where a student feels respected, acknowledged, and structured, the student is getting the best possible learning experience where they feel safe to learn and grow.
Too often, core subjects are despised by students. I personally believe that this is due to teachers only teaching through lecture. If a student has the ability to learn in a way they understand better, and doesn’t feel so trapped in a class they don’t understand, a student will feel more comfortable and want to learn the new information because they understand it.
For myself, teaching provides an opportunity to change the lives of thousands of students, while also growing as a person. I want to be a positive influence in the lives of those who are at a fork in the road. Without someone there who cares about the student and the education they receive, some of the students may not succeed in life. I want to change the life of at least one student to ensure that they choose a better path. I am driven by passion for this profession and will continually work to better myself and the others around me.
