My Philosophy of Education
Philosophy of Education
For a person to successfully function in the world,
they need to have an awareness of the knowledge that applies to every
generation and to possess a skillset that enables them to prosper both as an
individual and within society. Concomitant with this educational philosophy is
an enduring fascination with human excellence in any of the forms it may take. This
gives my purpose as an educator a destination directed by an ideal – students need
to have skills and understanding that is maximized by the pursuit of their
personal excellence. The acquisition of this knowledge and wisdom should be
viewed as a moral imperative, and I will do whatever it takes to increase the
likelihood of student improvement. By taking this approach, the possibility of
an individual attaining the moniker of “Renaissance Man” is increased, and such
an outcome benefits both the person and civilization.
Aside from such grandiose reasoning, the practical
details are also important. While every student must be held to high
expectations, it must be expectations that are suitable to their current level
of knowledge and skill. The curriculum is the duty of the teacher, but its
realization is the responsibility of the student. This means differentiating
instruction for students in ways that are meant for their growth and a complete
understanding that the academic needs of everyone are different. Ultimately, I
must make sure that they are improving with every day that passes.
Just as life is infinitely complex in the nature of
the tasks a person may be confronted with, so too must a teacher allow students
to acquire and express their knowledge by different means. This means using the
“I do, we do, you do” model in ways that challenge students in ways they are not
used to. This also extends to the instruction of routines and procedures that
ensure a harmonious classroom environment. If a student comes to not just know
something but to understand it, then the purpose of teaching can be considered
successful.
Fundamentally, there is no replacement for motivation. If I can identify what motivates a student, then I can use that as a tool to cultivate the personal trait of demanding excellence from themself. This is possible by virtue of character traits not existing in a vacuum, thereby having carryover to other aspects of a person’s life. When you work with a student that is extremely motivated, they will find ways to succeed regardless of what happens. With that as a force multiplier, all a teacher has to do is deliver the lessons in an effective manner.
I can do that. I will do that. I will leave my students better people than before they had me as a teacher.
This is a well-written post Bryan.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I would like to say that you could be the creator of companies/school's mission statements.
Second, I loved that you included the "I do, we do, you do" structure, motivation, and the importance of holding high expectations for the students in your philosophy. You also included parts about meeting the individual needs of the students and acknowledging those needs, which is incredibly important.
Third I absolutely loved your final statement. It was strong and another example of how incredible you will be as a teacher.
Great post Bryan!
Hey Bryan,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sydney; it is a very well-written blog post. I agree with you on this, "While every student must be held to high expectations, it must be expectations that are suitable to their current level of knowledge and skill." If teachers set higher expectations than students can handle, the result will be different. Finding what motivates a student is a great tool for building relationships with your students. I really like your ending statement. Great blog post!
Hi Bryan,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sydney and Ale, you did a wonderful job writing out your post! I’ll be honest, I had to google a few words ha! I like how you discussed being aware a couple times because ultimately this does make a difference to both you as a teacher and your students when it comes to learning what will work for them and for your students to do the same in a sense. Setting those high expectations should always be a priority but you stating that you want to make sure that it’s acceptable to their skills personally is important and will aid in their overall growth. Motivation is also a big one as there are some kids that will struggle to find that motivation and even those who are extremely motivated may fall short, so helping to encourage them will truly make a difference in your students’ lives.
Thank you for your post!
Ashley