Philosophy of Education
My ultimate goal as a teacher is to give students the best possible chance to succeed. Because students’ academic experiences help shape who they will become, teachers have a tremendous responsibility. However, before true learning can occur, I believe that teachers must not only follow sound teaching strategies and educational theories, but also gain the trust of their students and maintain an orderly and positive classroom environment. If students feel safe in the classroom and are treated fairly, they will enjoy learning and thrive academically. Students learn most effectively when peace and order are created in the classroom. This positive classroom environment can be created by establishing rules and procedures, treating students with respect and fairness, and providing students with engaging learning activities that allow students to work together as a community of learners.
Fairness in the classroom can be practiced in a variety of ways. Students will not be productive unless the classroom is orderly and well managed, and it is therefore not fair to them if they are put in a situation that is not conducive to learning. However, maintaining a positive classroom environment is not only up to the teacher, but is the students’ responsibility as well. Students must treat each other with respect, ensuring that each student is welcome and comfortable in the classroom. In order to accomplish this, teachers must not only promote an atmosphere where students treat one another with respect, but also reinforce rules and procedures. The order that will result from carefully following rules and procedures will reduce the conflicts between students and increase learning opportunities. If students can accomplish everyday tasks without disrupting the learning that must take place in the classroom, students will have a much richer academic experience and focus their attention on learning.
Fairness in the classroom can also be achieved through giving each student the best opportunity to learn. Students do not have control over their learning styles and needs. However, teachers can control the instructional methods they use. Because of this, it is not fair if teachers instruct the class with a single teaching method, expecting the students to adjust. Teachers must differentiate instruction, using different methods of teaching to accommodate the needs of different students. In order to accomplish this, teachers must know their students extremely well and make instructional decisions based on this knowledge. Meeting the diverse learning needs found in the classroom will enable the teacher to treat each student with the fairness that they deserve.
Teachers must also have high expectations for their students, as holding students to lower standards will not allow students to reach their full academic potential. It is important that teachers are demanding and expect full effort and high quality work from their students, while also being encouraging and helping students realize that they must not fear mistakes and misunderstandings, as these are natural parts of the learning process. It is not fair to the students if expectations are too low, and students are not challenged and driven to meet lofty goals, but it is also not fair if students are held to standards so high they cannot meet them. Students will not succeed if they are not challenged and given high standards, but students will also struggle if they are not allowed to make mistakes. Therefore, teachers must create a learning environment that gives students both the confidence to reach great academic heights, yet also the safety to make mistakes.
Fairness is a highly important aspect of education. Teachers have a responsibly to treat their students with fairness, and doing so will allow them to accommodate the needs of all students and provide students with a classroom environment that allows learners to thrive. If teachers demonstrate fairness in their teaching, students will also be more likely to demonstrate this quality, resulting in a classroom of learners who treat one another with respect and support, and welcome new ideas. This will allow students to take part in a classroom environment that supports and encourages learning, and provides the foundation that will help students reach their full potential as students.
Fairness in the classroom can be practiced in a variety of ways. Students will not be productive unless the classroom is orderly and well managed, and it is therefore not fair to them if they are put in a situation that is not conducive to learning. However, maintaining a positive classroom environment is not only up to the teacher, but is the students’ responsibility as well. Students must treat each other with respect, ensuring that each student is welcome and comfortable in the classroom. In order to accomplish this, teachers must not only promote an atmosphere where students treat one another with respect, but also reinforce rules and procedures. The order that will result from carefully following rules and procedures will reduce the conflicts between students and increase learning opportunities. If students can accomplish everyday tasks without disrupting the learning that must take place in the classroom, students will have a much richer academic experience and focus their attention on learning.
Fairness in the classroom can also be achieved through giving each student the best opportunity to learn. Students do not have control over their learning styles and needs. However, teachers can control the instructional methods they use. Because of this, it is not fair if teachers instruct the class with a single teaching method, expecting the students to adjust. Teachers must differentiate instruction, using different methods of teaching to accommodate the needs of different students. In order to accomplish this, teachers must know their students extremely well and make instructional decisions based on this knowledge. Meeting the diverse learning needs found in the classroom will enable the teacher to treat each student with the fairness that they deserve.
Teachers must also have high expectations for their students, as holding students to lower standards will not allow students to reach their full academic potential. It is important that teachers are demanding and expect full effort and high quality work from their students, while also being encouraging and helping students realize that they must not fear mistakes and misunderstandings, as these are natural parts of the learning process. It is not fair to the students if expectations are too low, and students are not challenged and driven to meet lofty goals, but it is also not fair if students are held to standards so high they cannot meet them. Students will not succeed if they are not challenged and given high standards, but students will also struggle if they are not allowed to make mistakes. Therefore, teachers must create a learning environment that gives students both the confidence to reach great academic heights, yet also the safety to make mistakes.
Fairness is a highly important aspect of education. Teachers have a responsibly to treat their students with fairness, and doing so will allow them to accommodate the needs of all students and provide students with a classroom environment that allows learners to thrive. If teachers demonstrate fairness in their teaching, students will also be more likely to demonstrate this quality, resulting in a classroom of learners who treat one another with respect and support, and welcome new ideas. This will allow students to take part in a classroom environment that supports and encourages learning, and provides the foundation that will help students reach their full potential as students.