Philosophy of Education

I believe that I should be a servant leader in the classroom, because through my words and actions I have the ability to show Christ’s love and mercy to my students.

I believe that as a teacher I should act as a guide in the classroom and not as an authoritative ruler, because this way students will be able to develop interests and ideas on their own, instead of simply fulfilling tasks handed out by the teacher.

I believe I should show enthusiasm and curiosity in content that I teach, because I can arouse student enthusiasm and curiosity by the expression of my own, which is especially important at the middle school age. Students are beginning to develop their own personal interests and concentrations- I hope to foster interest in learning in a wide variety of matters.

I believe that forming a relationship with each individual student is imperative, because students will become more engaged and active in the classroom when they know that the teachers cares about them personally and is concerned for the best interests of the students.

I believe that as a future teacher I will have the responsibility of staying current with educational trends and that I am prepared to change and adapt as a teacher, because the world is constantly in flux and I will need to be prepared to handle new circumstances. We live in a world where the one thing that remains true is God’s steadfast love for us.

I believe that the classroom is not just about the accumulation of information, but that it is a place to grow and develop an individual, because students should have the opportunity to mature and advance into the person that God designed them to be.

I believe in the importance of having a positive, nurturing, and empowering atmosphere in the classroom, because learning and personal development is peaked in a stable and safe learning environment.

I believe that technology integration is a vital and beneficial element in the classroom when used effectively, because technology opens students to extra and more meaningful opportunities. The use of technology in middle level education is especially critical for students starting to develop skills in modern society.

I believe that interdisciplinary learning can be an outstanding method for teaching, because it makes learning interesting and relevant to students while also helping them to make connections between the subjects, which leads to better learning.

I believe that it is important for students to learn skills that can be applied in the real world, because there are necessary skills that need to be learned in order for them to be self-sufficient and successful in the future.

I believe that teaching should be done through a variety of different techniques, because all students have individual strengths and weaknesses which lead to them all learning best by a variety of different methods. As a teacher I shouldn’t cater to only a selection of the students in my classroom, but instead to the needs of all.

I believe that learning should be activity and experience based, because through this students will be engaged and interested in the topic, especially at the middle level. Student engagement leads to a better environment and more efficient learning.

I believe that students should be able to develop the ability to critically think and discern issues for themselves and from a variety of perspectives, because it is important for students to be able to apply what they have learned, otherwise they run the risk of losing the information.

I believe that it is indispensable for students to learn how to collaborate and work with their peers, because as English poet John Donne said, “No man is an island.” Cooperation amongst peers is skill that will be used for their entirety of students’ lives.