Liberally Educated: |
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I have had an array of opportunities that have allowed me to begin developing my own Educational Philosophy, but as the years have progressed thoughts about my philosophy have changed. Through my many classes (coursework), practicum experiences and summer job opportunities, I have learned a great deal about many of the important aspects in education. Although I am continually establishing my own philosophy, I believe that it is a work in progress that will expand with more experiences within the teaching profession. Education does not only take place within a classroom setting, but rather people are educated with everything that they do within our lifetimes. I believe that education within the classroom should relate to and teach individuals about situations that they may face within their lives. I see my classroom as a safe stepping-stone for preparing each student for what is ahead. I hope to help students acquire skills such as respect for others and themselves, responsibility for oneself and assignments, how to work with others as a team, self-management strategies and different communication techniques throughout the school year. From past experiences, I have also learned that each student has a different learning style. While instructing a class, I have to be able to reach my students no matter what mode of learning is best for them. With that said, during preparation of lessons I must be held accountable for finding ways to reach all of my students. (multiple intelligences presentation). For example, during a Science discussion on plants, I may need to provide a pictorial example of the parts of a plant as well as bringing in examples of what we are discussing. That way I can reach kinesthetic, visual, and auditory learners all at one time. Other activities may require differentiation for students, so that each student can receive the most information at a level that best suits him or her. While teaching lessons, I would assess students through monitoring their comprehension by checking in with each of them during my teaching time. Keeping track of how they are succeeding overall, within my classroom, is also very important. Within topic units, I would also assess students through traditional and non-traditional forms. (Muggie Maggie Unit). I may have students who perform better one way than another and I need to adapt everyday to meet their needs. Ultimately, using a variety of means and ongoing assessment is the best option to use within my classroom. Being aware of a variety of reading tests, such as dibels, RTI, Cooter Flynt Cooter and many more will help me best aid the students being assessed. Knowing how to administer and understand the history behind each test I give will not only help the student, but also myself in seeking out what area a child is struggling in. (Dibels Evaluation). Understanding where students begin when they start to learn how to read and write is vital in aiding them in their progress through becoming a skilled reader. Through reading various chapters in books, starting students off right is vital. Knowing the three stages that take place in reading will aid the teacher in identifying which stage the child is in. Placing children in the right reading group will not only help them to find confidence in themselves, but will also help improve their reading ability. I discovered this while I did a research paper on guided reading. (Guided Reading Research). I learned that putting students in the correct group will help them to not become frustrated and instead show tremendous growth and excitement towards reading. Reading is an ongoing journey and by helping students at a young age learn the joy of it, will help them to become lifelong learners. Now, I do realize that not all students find reading enjoyable, but knowing what to do to help these students is the job of the reading specialist. Through the courses I have taken I feel confident that I will be able to help most of the students I interact with. If I am unable to help them, I will continue to search and find another way. Reading and writing are skills you need for your entire life!
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