My educational philosophy is to ensure
students a quality education regardless of special needs, labels, socioeconomic
or ethnic background and to view the classroom as a sanctuary (safe) as well as
an open and discussion oriented forum. Education
requires much more than academic knowledge.
Education can empower students to promote true democracy and to demand
rights but only when they are taught how. Only
within a true democracy can each member of the community matter equally.
This particularly applies to special education and minority students who
are often placed in lower tracks or dismissed because of their disability or
race. Knowledge can directly serve
to enhance employment opportunities but should not end there. Instead, schools should promote lifelong learning.
In every classroom there is a huge disparity of needs academically,
mentally, and physically. “Remedial,”
“special,” “at risk,” “behavior disorder,” “low functioning”--
these are words I hear daily describing students in the classroom.
These labels are harmful and detrimental to growth whereas other students
are considered to be “gifted” or “intelligent.”
Labels can become self-fulfilling prophecies.
The teacher needs to be both sensitive and appropriate in their use of
language. In actuality, all of the students in my classroom bring worthy
experiences into the classroom and are proficient language users.
There needs to be a focus on what the child can rather than cannot do.
What is important is to use a variety of curriculum, to be flexible in
instructional style, and to structure activities where the student can be
engaged and can legitimately succeed.
As a teacher, it becomes my role to actively monitor student progress and to check frequently for understanding through a variety of ways. This includes formal and informal assessment and verbal feedback. The student needs to feel a sense of worth and accomplishment for every little step towards becoming involved, on schedule, and integrated into the daily classroom’s tasks.
As
an English teacher, I believe in the interdisciplinary approach.
Literature often reflects not only the author's biography but the time
period's history, government, ideologies, and culture.
Other necessary components is the incorporation of technology and speech
communications. Because we live in
the information age, it is vital for students to become familiar with technology
especially in navigating the internet which is full of free resources.
Communicating effectively is also necessary in order to express ideas and
desires. Performing literary works
such as book excerpts, poetry, and short stories can really make English come
alive.
All students need to learn critical
thinking skills but more importantly to think for themselves. Education should empower students to gain control, to
determine their own choices in life, and to find satisfaction in pursuing and
attaining their own goals. Classrooms
should be student centered instead of teacher focused.
The teacher needs to provide engaging material, use democratic means, and
know each child individually. Education
also demands cooperative and continual learning.
Growth is not fixed and can be achieved through varied and challenging
curriculum based on students' needs and interests.
Learning should be active rather than passive.
The school environment should aim at promoting growth and flexibility to
meet the changing demands of social life, not merely to train the child for a
set position in society. By
de-emphasizing grades and the end result, learning becomes the continual process
of seeking, gaining, and growing in educational development.