Educational Philosophy
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My personal educational experiences have been very different over the past twelve years. In my earlier educational years, there was a very traditional style of learning. The students took notes, listened to the teacher and were not taught with many different styles. The subjects were not interrelated, but singular parts of each day. Everyday was spent in the same room and occasionally we would go to the library. From third to eighth grade, I was in a school in a newer and more developed area. In this area the style of teaching completely changed. At this point, subjects were connected and every day became new because of the changing styles of teaching in the classrooms. Each subject was taught by a different teacher, with one general home-base room to return to at the end of the day. In high school, I was placed in a school which was a comfortable medium between the two previous styles of schools. In high school there were certain classes that had a set routine and others which changed everyday. Some subjects seemed like there was no possible relation and others were obviously closely associated.

The goal of education is to prepare students for real life by teaching them to think critically and for themselves. Learning is about the student becoming what they desire, not being. Education is a period of growth both personally and intellectually. A positive way to gain this is through hands-on experience such as fieldwork, or labs. This provides a place to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom from text and peers. Also, critical thinking is a key factor in this. Without critical thinking, the student will not be able to analyze and apply the knowledge within the experience. This trains the student to think for themselves and think the subject or problem all the way through before making a decision.

The role of the teacher is to function as a stimulus for the student to learn. They are there to provide the material in a new and creative way without forgetting that there is a great deal of emphasis to be placed on the importance of values and ideas. Ideas, facts and values exist no matter what society elects to believe. There are certain undeniable truths. Curriculums in schools should be subject based, but the subjects should be merged together to best simulate real life situations. Classes should be based out of standardized material and text, but allowed to wander off subject. This allows a concrete foundation, but allows the students to apply and share their personal experiences and creativity with the subject matter.

The classroom should be a fun creative place to learn both solid and abstract ideas. Activities should be of both traditional and newer flavor. I personally am a fan of note taking, but then having an interactive activity, such as a discussion or game to reinforce the concept. This provides a visual and active way to obtain the concept. This also helps students relate to the subject matter through understanding others or by sharing their own experiences. Without personal experience, the knowledge remains facts without any personal application. When applied to an individual the knowledge is able to take on a whole new meaning and dimension.

My approach to the classroom environment will be by acting as a stimulus for the students by offering positive reinforcement, such as praise and good grades when a student does well. When a student is not doing well I will offer aid in helping the student understand the concept. I will create an environment in which students feel comfortable to discuss topics freely and to share personal experiences. I will also create an environment in which students are actively challenged to take the extra step in learning; to encourage them to take their education to a higher level by making it more personally specific.

As a teacher I hope to have a positive impact on students. I want to be the teacher that students enjoy being in class with, but still provide work that challenges them. I would also like to eventually become more involved with the students through extra curricular programs, such as coaching or by becoming an advisor for an after-school club. I want to educate students to become effective people in society, and encourage them to make the world a better place than what it was before.