General Philosophy of Education
My personal philosophy on education is based on my high belief that Education is the key to success. I feel that my personal knowledge will help influence decisions and instructional practices made in the classroom and in schools. The set curriculum should include the developmental levels, such as cognitive, social, linguistics, emotional and physical that students are at with modifications if needed. When there is an environment that provides all these components, I feel that all students, including special needs children or children with disabilities, will feel the promotion of education in a positive way.
A good positive environment will help a student lean to their best potential. I believe that students learn best when there is an enriching environment that is interesting and comfortable enough to feel like they will not be ridiculed for their knowledge, or wanting to obtain more knowledge. With children with disabilities I feel that my role would be to make sure that the environment is safe and encouraging so that these students can be successful in my classroom or on my campus. All students including students with disabilities should be included in general education environments so that they can gain skills such as social skills in order to be productive citizens. They in return as a learner have the responsibility to push themselves to what they can do and have high attainable expectations for themselves.
While doing my first semester of internship as a student teacher, I learned that the environment plays a great role in the way children learn. If a classroom is crazy, unorganized, and or chaotic, then the students may not put much effort into their work or they may feel that their environment is not meeting their needs. In my mentor’s class, I learned that if you build a positive relationship with the students that then you will gain the students respect. Students will not feel intimidated when asking questions, will feel safe and will want to learn. It is important that as an educator or an administrator, you know that you are there to support the learner and not push them down or make them feel inferior. You should know where the students are coming from and what may impact their abilities to learn to their fullest potential. Then you would use the tools you need in order to help a child be successful through their adversities.
In addition to the environment, I feel that a good relationship with the students, school, parents and surrounding community is important to promote a positive social change. As a teacher and a prospective administrator, I would build a way of communication with parents to help get them involved in their child’s educational needs. Parents should feel that it is just as much as their responsibility to help their child be independent and a successful citizen of the community as it is the school and the educator’s responsibility. I feel that the teacher is not only responsible for a students learning, but the student’s family is as well. As stated Heward’s book Exceptional Children, “School and family partnerships enhance both the meaningfulness and the effectiveness of special education” (Heward 2013). Not only does the help of a student’s family need to be addressed, in the classroom, but the help of community members outside the classroom. Teachers and administrators should try to get local businesses involved on their campus and make them feel welcomed. The community can provide your school and students with additional support they may need in order to be successful. I feel that if the community is supportive of the fact that students are trying to succeed, the students will be able to see that they are not in their educational experience alone. They have the proper and adequate amount of support in order for them to succeed in their educational goals.
I also feel that students need to be exposed to all ways of learning. I do not feel that students learn when just doing “ditto sheets”. I am very passionate about giving students inquiry based hands on experiences through the daily use of workstations and learning centers in order for them to make adequate connections to their own lives and world. In my opinion you can do so much with centers, and they do not have to stay the same all year. I also feel that enrichment activities or ancillary classes help enhance a student’s knowledge, for example, a computer lab, science lab, foreign language class, art class, music class etc. These classes will ultimately help the students move and grow in a better educational way as well as help support the needs of children with disabilities. In addition I feel that teachers not only need to have a general philosophy of education but a philosophy in other content areas as well so that they are aware of what their vision is in other content areas for all children including children with disabilities. Your understanding of other content areas and your general philosophy can help you to design lessons that meet the needs of all your students no matter what strengths or disabilities they may have.