Teaching Philosophy: Poppy Miller EDUC 150 12PM Elementary Education Progressivism, Behaviorism, Cognitivism

Teaching Philosophy
Poppy Miller
EDUC 150 12PM
Elementary Education
Progressivism, Behaviorism, Cognitivism
In order to effectively teach our children today, teachers must have a goal in mind as to
how best to reach them. There are many different methods and philosophies teachers use to do
this, each shaping the environment of their classrooms. Each philosophy includes different ways
of teaching, managing the classroom, and evaluating students, but the underlying goal is the
same: to educate the future leaders and citizens of our society. The role of teachers, therefore, is
extremely important. No other occupation in the world has the opportunity to reach so many
young minds, so it comes as no surprise that future teachers here at Olivet are educated under the
theme of Professionals Influencing Lives. This influence is conveyed through a teachers
philosophy, according to that teachers preferences and beliefs about teaching. Personally, I like
different aspects about the philosophies of progressivism, behaviorism, and cognitivism, so my
teaching philosophy includes a blend of ideas from all three.
One of the concerns I have about teaching in my own classroom is the extent to which I
will be able to manage and control the behavior of my students. I feel that the most effective
way to ensure that I will be able to manage my classroom stems from behaviorism. Under this
philosophy, students are taught to behave in a way that complies with the atmosphere of the
school and classroom. To do this, the teacher first identifies the behavior that they expect from
the students. This behavior is then enforced in the daily procedures and routines of the school
day. Although poor behavior is dealt with by consequences, the focus lies on positive
reinforcement and rewards for good behavior. Students tend to respond well to positive
encouragement, and they generally aim to please. This inclination is rewarded, thus encouraging
the students to continue to behave well. Behaviorism states that it is best induced through such
positive reinforcement (Sadker & Sadker, 2003). Therefore, if students are somehow rewarded
for displaying the desired behavior, they will eventually be able to become self-regulated and
respond to learning in positive ways.
The curriculum and instruction a teacher uses and gives is vital when educating students.
I believe that not only do students need to have an understanding of the subject matter necessary
to succeed in life, but also to be able to think and reason for themselves. Cognitivism fulfills this
need as it focuses on developing thinking skills students will be able to use for the rest of their
lives. This philosophy uses an integrated curricula as it stimulates the cognitive development of
each student. Critical thinking skills are emphasized as the teacher encourages his or her
students to solve problems and find answers on their own. Students remember pieces of
information better if they find it for themselves, so cognitivism allows for these types of learning
opportunities. Good study skills are also taught, which aids the students in their schoolwork. All
of these aspects of the curriculum and instruction help direct each student toward a path of
lifelong self-directed learning that will prove to be highly beneficial to them in the future.
Due to the importance of the curriculum of cognitivism, I feel that the role of the teacher
is best described by this same philosophy. If students are not able to think for themselves, then
their future success in life is uncertain. Life is full of choices and problems that must be faced
and solved every day. The teacher in a cognitivist classroom focuses his or her instruction based
on this fact, thus embracing a vital role. These teachers must mediate student learning and
monitor thought processes in their classrooms. This helps ensure that their students are
mastering the concepts surrounding good thinking and problem solving skills, which will lead
them down the path to success.
Lesson plans and classroom activities are the basis of student learning, and they must be
effective in the way that material is presented. Students need to be interested in each lesson and
activity, or else they become less focused toward learning the material. The ideas presented in
the philosophy of progressivism negate this potential lack of interest and provide each student
with the opportunity to become actively involved in each lesson. According to progressivism,
students learn best from experience, so this is what lesson plans are designed to incorporate.
Many field trips are scheduled, which allow the students to see and do things rather than read
about them in books. The needs and interests of the students are reflected in each lesson and
activity, thus providing the opportunity for the students to connect and identify with each other.
As the students work in groups, they learn to work cooperatively and learn things on their own
(Sadker & Sadker, 2003).
The process of grading and evaluation is another important aspect of teaching. In order
to sufficiently measure the knowledge of students, I feel that the progressivism philosophy is the
best to use. Here, students are evaluated formatively, and their progress is monitored. The
cognitive development of a student is the ultimate goal of teaching, and it is easily measured
under progressivism. As the teacher notes the progress of each student in regard to their
understanding of the material presented, they are able to track each student and supply any
additional necessary help. With this type of evaluation, teachers are able to see the effectiveness
of their lessons and can adjust their lessons according to their students levels of understanding.
Although each philosophy is effective in teaching students in different ways, the
philosophy I would use is a mixture of three of them. By using behaviorism to manage my
classroom, I hope to teach my students to control their own and behavior and have a positive
outlook on learning. With my curriculum and instruction based on cognitivism, as well as my
role as a teacher, it is my goal to provide my students with the opportunity to become effective
thinkers who are able to make decisions and solve problems. And under progressivism, I plan to
incorporate cooperative learning and experience-centered activities to allow my students to learn

on a whole different level. Using these different aspects of progressivism, behaviorism, and
cognitivism, I am able to formulate a teaching philosophy of my own. It is with this philosophy
that I strive to become a successful professional with the power to influence lives.
References
Sadker, M. P., & Sadker, D. M. (2003). Teachers, schools, and society (6th ed.). New York:
McGraw-Hill.

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Teaching Philosophy

incorporate cooperative learning and experience-centered activities to allow my students to learn

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