My Philosophy on Education
My philosophy is that an educator is the most valuable resource our country has. Of all the jobs or careers in this world, none of them would be possible without teachers. For anything to be learned it must be taught; teachers are fundamental in our society because they provide younger generations with the knowledge and social experiences they will need to succeed in life. As a teacher, my main goal is to always be a positive role model and help students understand what education can do for them and their future in a global world. By being a reflective practitioner, I constantly evaluate my teaching methods to ensure they are working well for my students and that I am effective in my instruction. The philosophy that best suits me is progressivism; John Dewey’s beliefs are very similar to my own. Providing students with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in our competitive society is imperative. Progressivism deals with the support of the scientific method; being an earth science teacher, this philosophy supports my preferences on how students should uncover answers that are difficult to find. The scientific method has helped me as a student and enabled me to arrive at clear and precise answers with confidence. Socrates is another philosopher who appeals to me. The Socratic method helps students with problems by asserting a series of questions, the approach encourages students to think critically and discover the answer on their own. As a student, I have learned best from having to find the answer rather than it given to me without any effort on my part.
My classroom is an environment where curiosity is sparked and fascinating discoveries are made. I have very high expectations for every single student that walks into my class. The lab work is a crucial component to initiate the excitement of learning for my students. Both in the lab and out in the field, we use all of the available technology to analyze the earth and discuss the processes that are shaping it. Using a smart board, we take virtual field trips around the world and explore all of the different geomorphological features our planet encompasses. When showing my students actual images of landscapes as a result of glaciation, volcanism, weather and erosion, or plate tectonic movements, they can use the lessons for the rest of their life to identify the different landforms they come across through their travels. By holding a rock that is over two million years old, it drives my students to make inquiries about what type of environment it formed in. Looking at fossils and drawing conclusions to their relative age is another intriguing activity during the year, we can accurately determine a lot of useful information by studying field samples. Once a student completes all of the lab requirements in my classroom, they will never look at a rock the same way again. When a student looks at the moon they will understand why it appears the way it does and its position in respect to the earth and the sun. My goal is to lay the foundation for further inquires about our planet and its amazing processes that enable us to live here.
Teachers are role models and embody what a good citizen is, if a student acquires a general understanding of all classes, then he or she should be able to make positive decisions in life. Social justice issues are always acknowledged in my classes, everyone is treated equally and there is gender equity. In our society, men dominated the science field for a long time but more women are obtaining PHDs in science than ever before. It is important that my female students know they are capable of becoming a doctor or scientist and changing the world. A comfortable environment for learning that respects diversity, a strong curriculum, and a well-managed classroom are all key factors to a quality education. Woven tightly into my lessons are the common core standards, every student must meet certain requirements and leave my classroom with a solid understanding of the earths processes. My classroom encompasses all of the fundamental aspects of a successful learning environment and accommodates every single student no matter what their special needs may be. I am inclusive, every student deserves the least restrictive environment so they can expand their minds and discover their own hidden talents. Working with my colleagues in other departments including math and technology ensures that my students benefit from all of the resources available to enrich their education.
Strong relationships with my student’s parents are an integral component to their success; we work together to make sure every opportunity is afforded to them. I am a culturally responsive teacher and am active in my community; my students know I am here for them no matter what the circumstances may be. Being a self-actualizer, there is never going to be a point in my career where I feel as though I have attained all of my goals. This is a life-long journey that is very rewarding and I would not trade it for the world.
My classroom is an environment where curiosity is sparked and fascinating discoveries are made. I have very high expectations for every single student that walks into my class. The lab work is a crucial component to initiate the excitement of learning for my students. Both in the lab and out in the field, we use all of the available technology to analyze the earth and discuss the processes that are shaping it. Using a smart board, we take virtual field trips around the world and explore all of the different geomorphological features our planet encompasses. When showing my students actual images of landscapes as a result of glaciation, volcanism, weather and erosion, or plate tectonic movements, they can use the lessons for the rest of their life to identify the different landforms they come across through their travels. By holding a rock that is over two million years old, it drives my students to make inquiries about what type of environment it formed in. Looking at fossils and drawing conclusions to their relative age is another intriguing activity during the year, we can accurately determine a lot of useful information by studying field samples. Once a student completes all of the lab requirements in my classroom, they will never look at a rock the same way again. When a student looks at the moon they will understand why it appears the way it does and its position in respect to the earth and the sun. My goal is to lay the foundation for further inquires about our planet and its amazing processes that enable us to live here.
Teachers are role models and embody what a good citizen is, if a student acquires a general understanding of all classes, then he or she should be able to make positive decisions in life. Social justice issues are always acknowledged in my classes, everyone is treated equally and there is gender equity. In our society, men dominated the science field for a long time but more women are obtaining PHDs in science than ever before. It is important that my female students know they are capable of becoming a doctor or scientist and changing the world. A comfortable environment for learning that respects diversity, a strong curriculum, and a well-managed classroom are all key factors to a quality education. Woven tightly into my lessons are the common core standards, every student must meet certain requirements and leave my classroom with a solid understanding of the earths processes. My classroom encompasses all of the fundamental aspects of a successful learning environment and accommodates every single student no matter what their special needs may be. I am inclusive, every student deserves the least restrictive environment so they can expand their minds and discover their own hidden talents. Working with my colleagues in other departments including math and technology ensures that my students benefit from all of the resources available to enrich their education.
Strong relationships with my student’s parents are an integral component to their success; we work together to make sure every opportunity is afforded to them. I am a culturally responsive teacher and am active in my community; my students know I am here for them no matter what the circumstances may be. Being a self-actualizer, there is never going to be a point in my career where I feel as though I have attained all of my goals. This is a life-long journey that is very rewarding and I would not trade it for the world.