My Philosophy of Education
There are five key aspects that make up my philosophy of education. Firstly, it is extremely important to create a positive environment for students. Also, in order to be an effective teacher, they must be able to re-evaluate their teaching methods and adapt them to their learners. Teachers must also allow students to creatively express themselves. In addition, I believe that collaborative and discovery learning as well as hands-on activities are effective strategies for teachers to incorporate. Most importantly, a teacher should always link material to the outside world in order to help students make connections and develop a deeper understanding of the topic at hand. What follows is a more detailed description of the aspects mentioned above.
A Positive Classroom Environment
Learning begins with a certain desire to learn. Young children are often curious and eager to learn new things. Students need to be presented with an environment in which they are able to feel safe and comfortable. In my opinion, the best learning can occur where students are able to express their ideas, opinions and beliefs without feeling judged or criticised by their teacher or their peers. One of my goals is to provide students with a safe atmosphere and environment in order to help foster learning.
Being a Reflective Teacher
I am a very determined, positive and open-minded individual. One of the important ways to keep improving as a teacher is to be able to take a step back and evaluate what you are doing. The best feedback is one that comes from students because essentially, they are the ones who are being taught. I believe that my characteristics will help me in the future because I will be able to take feedback from my students and use it to change, adapt and improve my teaching methods and ideas.
The Importance of Creativity
It is extremely important for me to allow my students to direct their learning through creativity. Students should express their ideas with imagination and originality. I believe that everyone is creative in their own way. As a teacher, I would like to help my students express that creativity inside them and help them to convey their own message.
Effective Teaching Strategies
A teacher should act as a guide in order to motivate students and guide them in the right direction. Students learn best when they are given the opportunity to discover things on their own as well as construct their knowledge through collaborative learning. I am a big believer in learning by doing. Students do not want to be lectured to, they simply want to do. Hands-on activities, discovery learning and classroom discussions are all strategies which are extremely beneficial to a child’s education. Students are learning more if they are given the opportunity to work in groups because this helps their social skills as well as allows them to share their ideas and help each other. I want my students to know that they are never alone and that there is always someone there to help them along the way.
Making Connections with the World Outside of the Classroom
Not only should students be exposed to what is presented to them in the classroom, but a good teacher finds a way to link this knowledge to the outside world. I want to be able to give students a reason and explanation for what they are learning. Not only do I want to teach them new things but also why and how this knowledge will be relevant for them. By doing this, it gives students a purpose for learning and helps motivate them to want to learn.
As stated by Aristotle, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” I strongly believe that education is not necessarily all about educating the mind but that it is equally important to provide the opportunity for continual growth and learning amongst students. A great teacher is one that is compassionate, caring and loving but who also finds a way to inspire his or her students by sharing their gifts, talents and abilities.