I did not enter college with the mindset of becoming a teacher. To be honest, it was not even at the top of my list when trying to choose a field of study. Like most undecided freshmen, I took the required courses and on a whim signed up for my first introductory course to education. It was that single decision that led me to later on become a classroom teacher.
When considering what I know to be my philosophy of education, it is important that I must also evaluate what has influenced and brought me to this understanding. The education that was provided to me would be considered as alternative to today’s standards as I was not a product of just public education. A majority of my schooling years was as a homeschooler but I was also able to attend Christian, private, public, and British schools throughout my elementary through high school years.
As a Christian, what I believe, value, and know to be true is the foundation of my philosophy. It shapes my entire belief system and therefore is reflected in my classroom. All decisions that I make are made so that ultimately, I will bring glory to God. When deciding on how to illustrate lessons, deal with behaviors, or even interacting with parents and cohorts, I am constantly evaluating if my actions are in line to what I have learned from biblical principles.
Education has several purposes. In a broader sense, it is used in allowing citizens to become responsible and self-sufficient. Fudamentally, education is used to teach reading and writing. It is the foundation for citizens to thrive in a society. Without this, there would be a lack of moral and ethical values, and an environment that had no clear direction, ambition, or goals.
I firmly believe that the process of gaining an education is a life-long endeavor. Looking back, I remember thinking that graduating from high school would be a huge hurdle. The next goal was college. Upon graduating and moving into the classroom, I have now come to realize that learning never ceases. Having this mindset has allowed me to further my knowledge in unusual areas and to gain understanding in what I thought at times what was the impossible to learn. My desire is to challenge students to continue learning and to never stop pursuing their interests.
As I have heard so often, I am the gatekeeper to what students will or will not be exposed to. I am also very well aware that my attitude towards education also influences how my students will interpret different subject matter as well as their overall outlook on their learning. It is my heart’s desire to impart an excitement for learning and to guide my students in a way that will encourage them to continue throughout their lifetime.
4 comments:
Janna, I enjoy reading your blogs. I feel you really answer these questions honestly. Reading your rough draft brought up some questions I'd be very interested in knowing the answer to.
I hope this helps and good luck!
1. What was in that first class that lead you to teach?
2. What specifically from your broad education experiences are you going to bring to the classroom?
3. How are you going to "impart an excitement for learning and to guide my students in a way that will encourage them to continue throughout their lifetime?"
Input to Janna on her first draft:
Janna,
What I liked about your draft is that it is written from the heart. Your commitment to teaching and to your values comes out clearly.
I realize this is a “VERY rough draft”. From what I can tell, at this point you haven’t developed an outline. I though it might be helpful if I share with you one possible outline that can help you to think about how you might structure your paper. Here it is below:
I. About you
A. A brief autobiography
B. What has motivated me to pursue a teaching
career?
C. How have I been socialed and what impact
will this have on my students?
II. About teaching
A. What’s an education? What is its purpose?
B. What role in society as a whole do schools
have?
C. Social issues surrounding education (see
Catron’s Rubrix)
III. About the teacher and the student
A. What is your role and what are your goals as
a teacher?
B. What is the role of and the goal for your
students?
C. How is learning in your classroom impacted
by the social, economic, political, and cultural
paradigm in the United States and New
Mexico?
IV. Summary & Conclusion
Another comment. Make sure you address all the questions that Catron has put in the Rubric.
I hope this is of some help, Janna. Good luck in the writing. Have fun!
John W Strachan
Hi Janna,
I enjoyed reading your paper because you know who you are and what kind of teacher you are. I consider this a huge strength.
Do you ever feel pressured to separate your faith from school? And if so how do you deal with it?
What kind of differences do you see in public education and the education you received?
A recommendation is to elaborate on the purposes of education section. This is a great quote that can be used in the classroom and daily life, “I am constantly evaluating if my actions are in line to what I have learned from biblical principles”. Good luck!
You clearly demonstrated your values your christian up bringing , british and home schooled life that affecte your philosophy of edcation. Like most people who go to college they do no find out what they are meant to do later on in life. It would be nice if you expantiated further on how your culture will affect the socialization, culture of your tudnets and classroom. It may also be nice to kind of a theme for your philosophy of education. t is cearly driven by your experiences andfactors but what is it? I cant wait to read your final paper. Responding to philog & work to comment on learning peer review.
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