Philosophy of Education

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PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
Victoria Staker
Philosophy of Education
As a future educator, it is very significant to have a philosophy of education. I want my
classroom and curriculum to be the best that they can be to provide a positive learning
experience for my students and to enable the students to achieve greatness in school and
themselves. The philosophy that I will follow and replicate in my future teaching career will be
the student-centered philosophy of Progressivism. As described in “Teachers, Schools and
Society,” in which a teacher and classroom organizes education around the concerns, curiosity,
and real-world experiences of students (Sadker and Zittleman, p. 167).
I believe the foremost role of a teacher includes forming a genuine relationship and
connection with your students. In a TED Talk by Rita Pierson, she states that when teachers form
connections with their students and show the students how they believe in them, then the
possibilities of what the children can accomplish are endless (Pierson, 2013). The students must
sense that the teacher cares about them as an individual, to communicate openly and work
together effectively. I believe that no one student is alike, therefore every student learns material
differently. The role of a teacher should include presenting material to meet the needs of every
student, incorporating all backgrounds of students, and in doing so, the students will be
motivated and engaged. A teacher should be creative when planning his/her agenda to want their
students to come to school and be motivated to learn.
Students at an elementary age must fulfill their responsibilities each day in the classroom,
to reach their fullest potential of a quality education. This entails coming to class prepared with
materials and homework. Students should come to school with an “I can do it attitude,” working
to practice the material effectively and to understand. Sometimes, the teacher will come across
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students who do not believe they can succeed; therefore the teacher must find a way to reach the
students and help them believe in themselves. When a student isn’t clear on the material or what
is being asked of him/her, they should be expected to speak up because communication is key for
both the teacher and student relationship. They must be willing to learn and improve themselves,
giving their best and asking questions to better understand how and why things work. Lastly,
students should be able to work successfully with others in groups and effectively communicate
with one another, to cooperative learn. Students need to know that they work at their own pace,
not meaning that anyone is more or less capable.
When I envision myself as a teacher, I feel students learn little to nothing from
worksheets and “straight from the book” teaching. Therefore, when it comes to curriculum,
students need to encompass hands-on experiences and opportunities to critically think and make
connections. These connections will allow the individual to find a deeper meaning and purpose
as well as truly learning the content, following John Dewey’s approach to education, in which it
is an opportunity to learn how to apply previous experience in a brand-new way (Sadker and
Zittleman, p. 167). John Dewey’s approach centered on human experience includes the scientific
method to solving problems using the following five steps, (1) become aware of the problem, (2)
define it, (3) propose various hypotheses to solve it, (4) examine the consequences of each
hypothesis, (5) test the most likely solution (Sadker, and Zittleman, p. 167). Since no one student
learns on the same level and the same way, material needs to be presented in multiple ways.
When presenting new material, there should be notes, but students are going to remember what
they make connections to. Therefore, the environment should aid in children’s personalities and
intellect to reach their full potential. Some adaptations and differentiation will take place, to
adapt to the needs of every student. The teacher can maximize their students’ growth and
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individual success by teaching each student at his or her skill level, allowing them to assist in the
learning process. Observation, portfolios, and record-keeping are critical to validate where
students were, where they currently are, and what skills they require further guidance in to
develop.
Classroom management is essential for an effective learning environment. First, the
teacher should set the right expectations with his/her students concerning behavior, interaction,
and discipline at the beginning of the year. There should be a given set of rules of the classroom
with consequences for negative behavior and positive reinforcement for good behavior. Some
consequences may include taking away dojo points, removal of individual privileges, calling of
parent/guardian, etc. Positive reinforcement, especially at the elementary age enables students to
strive for greatness. This may include dojo points or tickets for good behavior, or a good test
grade, etc. When the students receive a certain amount of tickets or dojo points, they will be able
to pick from a variety of prizes.
In conclusion, I believe it is very significant to have a philosophy of education. The
intention should not be simply to teach or pass on facts to students but to prepare an environment
that ignites children’s curiosity and motivation to learn. Every child has a right to learn, therefore
one should provide a positive learning environment that encourages and nurtures learning by
observing, guiding, and facilitating the experiences and actions of every student. This will enable
students to become critical and creative thinkers who strive for success.
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References
Pierson, R. (2013, May). Rita Pierson: Every kid needs a champion [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.ted.com/talks/rita_pierson_every_kid_needs_a_champion/transcript?
language=en
Sadker, D. M., & Zittleman, K. R. (2013). Teachers, schools, and society. Teachers, schools,
and
society (10th ed., p. 167). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

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As a future educator, it is very significant to have a philosophy of education. I want my

the student-centered philosophy of Progressivism. As described in “Teachers, Schools and

and real-world experiences of students (Sadker and Zittleman, p. 167).

students to come to school and be motivated to learn.

not meaning that anyone is more or less capable.

Classroom management is essential for an effective learning environment. First, the

to pick from a variety of prizes.

In conclusion, I believe it is very significant to have a philosophy of education. The

society (10th ed., p. 167). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

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