My Philosophy of Education
I believe that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring, and stimulating environment in which to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. It is my aspiration as an educator to help students meet their fullest potential in these areas by providing an environment that is safe, supports over achieving, and invites a sharing of ideas. There are three elements that I believe are conducive to establishing such an environment, first, the teacher acting as a guide, then, allowing the child's natural curiosity to direct his/her learning, and finally, promoting respect for all things and all people.
When the teacher's role is to guide, providing access to information rather than acting as the primary source of information, the students' search for knowledge is met as they learn to find answers to their questions. For students to create knowledge, they need the opportunity to discover for themselves and practice skills in authentic situations. Providing student’s access to hands-on activities and allowing adequate time and space to use materials that reinforce the lesson being studied creates an opportunity for individual innovation and construction of knowledge to occur.
Equally important to self-discovery is having the opportunity to study things that are meaningful and relevant to one's life and interests. Developing a curriculum around student interests promotes intrinsic motivation and stimulates the passion to learn. One way to take learning in a direction relevant to student interest is to invite student dialogue about the lessons and units of study. Given the opportunity for input, students generate ideas and set goals that make for much more contented activities than I could have created or imagined myself. When students have ownership in the