Educational+Philosophy

Danielle Kovach, 2010 Teacher of the Year, addressed a gathering of future teachers on a November afternoon to talk about her educational philosophy and the importance of education. She said, “Teaching is like a mosaic, there are many different pieces that have to be put together and as a teacher it is my job to create effective classroom management that will sculpt each of the young minds in my classroom.” I feel strongly about this statement and I believe that teaching should take on many forms to meet the unique needs and learning styles of each individual. Children learn through explanation, practice, experience, and moving on to more advanced material. As an educator, I believe that students should learn from the application of content, but also encouraging creativity and independent thinking.

My greatest teaching philosophy is that you cannot teach children until you build a relationship with them, and my goal as a teacher is to provide a safe and comfortable environment for my students to explore their areas of interest. Effective learning requires collaboration between the teacher, student, and parent, grounded in mutual respect and trust. To help my students feel comfortable in the classroom, I will teach my students the importance of cultural diversity. When students no longer feel discomfort, they will be able to express how they feel and trust will be gained between the students. As a teacher, I will prepare my students to have a positive attitude towards learning, to be responsible members of our learning community, and to accept all individual differences.

We as teachers have an obligation to prepare our students for their social responsibilities and molding them into lifelong learners. Teaching and learning must be designed to student’s physical, emotional, and intellectual development. The current generation of students is growing up with more technology than in the past. As a teacher, it is important to enhance knowledge about technology advancements by attending workshops and listening to professionals. Teachers in various school districts continue to use the same curriculum year after year, causing many difficulties. Therefore, students are not learning about material that will help them in this new technological era. When I teach, I will incorporate different teaching styles and differentiate the different content learned to allow creative thinking. As a teacher, my main focus will be the children, developing their passion for learning by using their enthusiasm and curiosity they portray, and sculpting their minds to reach their full potential.

Good teachers believe students can achieve their goals and want them to be successful. Hence, educators set high standards to motivate and inspire students to fulfill any expectations they set for themselves. To ensure that my students reach their goals, I will provide them with a quality curriculum, which adheres to each student individually. Teaching is about making each student feel that they are unique while promoting enthusiasm for learning. The most effective educators are those that believe every child can achieve their potential as lifelong learners.

Finally, teaching and learning occurs when students feel they are in a safe and comfortable environment. Good teachers will set high standards and encourage students to achieve their goals. When teaching students, it is important to communicate in ways that are engaging to stimulate creative thinking. In summary, my educational philosophies revolve around fostering exploration, achievement, and development through the care and safety of each individual student. Despite any challenges that may arise, I will remain enthusiastic about the field of education and encourage my students to become lifelong learners.