Phi of edu

Philosophy of Education

Throughout my years of education, I have formulated my own technique for the way students should be taught. I formulated my ideas of teaching based on William Glasser’s perspectives on teaching in classroom. As a future teacher, I believe I need to make the learning environment student centered.

I believe myself to be a constructivist. I do not believe in lecturing to the students. The students and teachers should work together and learn together. As Glasser believes, the class room should be student centered (Hursh, 2005). The teacher is there to provide guidance. Students will lose their focus in the topic at hand, if they do not find it interesting. Students should be able to share their likes and dislikes. As stated, “Students learn best in an environment that is dynamic and social and where they feel they have owner ship in the design of course (Gray, 2005).“

I want to know about my students backgrounds. I also would like all of my students to feel comfortable and respected, so that they will make others feel the same. I believe by engaging in a student-centered learning environment, the students will learn to embrace each others differences. If the student is comfortable in the classroom and around their peers, it will enhance their learning experience. As a future teacher, I would like to try different ways of teaching information so that each student will have an input on what they felt worked best for them.

As a teacher, I should be sensitive to their student’s surroundings. As Glasser believes, there is no bad behavior (Choice Theory, 2005). Students act out to satisfy their wants. If I am sensitive to the student as a teacher, I will be able to look deeper into the problem if a student is misbehaving. I will be able to see which of their needs is not being met and will change my teaching to satisfy that need. We may learn that the student is “acting out” because of a dysfunctional background or hone life. I should not be so quick to say that the student has a learning disability. Many schools are quickly to diagnose a student with ADD or ADHD and medicate them to “solve” the problem. This all in turn could be resolved if a student-centered class was formed.

In becoming a special education teacher, I believe that every student should be given an equal opportunity to reach their potential. Many schools separate “special need children” away from the rest of their peers. I believe all teachers should be certified in special education. If all students were combined together in smaller classrooms at least for some part of the day, students will not feel left out or separated due their disability. Combining special needs students with the rest of their peers will give everyone a chance to understand and respect one another’s differences. I believe students form too many biases, too quickly. If the school system could find a way to prevent the biases from occurring early, it would present a much healthier learning environment for all students.

One of my main purposes as being a teacher is to impact each student’s life, even if it is just a little bit. I believe that forming relationships with each individual student will make a successful year. I want the students to learn information and enjoy their learning experience while in my classroom. I believe that a student-centered learning environment is the best way for me to as a future teacher to set my classroom as. The one quote that I enjoy using is by Whitney Houston, “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way!”

References

Gray, C. A. (2005). Reflections on teaching models. Retrieved Apr. 20, 2005, from Reflection Web site: http://www.uwec.edu/grayca/webpgs2/reflection.htm.

Hursh, T. (2005). Control theory. Retrieved Apr. 20, 2005, from http://moodle.ed.uiuc.edu/wiked/.php/Control_theory.

Personal Resources Development, (2005). Choice theory. Retrieved Apr. 20, 2005, from http://wfurr.com/ct/ct.htm.

Krista Bianco
Bian1622@mail.plattsburgh.edu
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Last Updated: December 16, 2005