Philosophy Statement
Just as every classroom is different, so are the teachers that work within them. While their philosophies should be linked by keeping the interest of their students in mind, the best philosophies differ because they are created based on individual experience. It is easier for a teacher to believe in a particular philosophy that has proven true in his or her own education, rather than a statement made in a textbook. I have had a wonderful educational experience in my life thus far and I know it is impossible to enter the classroom as a teacher and separate my educational biases from my teaching methods. The impact my education has had on me will guide my teaching principles.
One reason my education has always been such a positive influence in my life, is because of the unbelievable support system I had encouraging me to always try my best. The teacher was always the central figure in this system, but it was his or her responsibility to help build the rest of the support team. A teacher must deliver the positive feedback to a student in the classroom, but they need to make sure that feedback continues while that student is at home. I don’t believe any child should have to go home to an unstable environment and while I know that is not a realistic belief, I also know an education can help change that dynamic. A teacher has the power to create a relationship with a child’s parent(s) or guardian(s) and it is the step in sparking that relationship that will help create a support system in their student’s education. I believe an education should be a team effort between a student, their teacher and their parent(s) and it will be my job as the teacher to establish this collaboration with each and every one of my students and their families. I cannot expect a child to perform at their best when there is nobody at home encouraging them to do so. So while it is essential for a teacher to provide students with an unending amount of positive support, it is also their job to make sure everyone is involved in this process.
Special education is unique in that parents are required to sign off on all decisions made in their child’s educational plan and encouraged to attend all meetings centered around their child’s educational future. Special education provides evidence that supports my belief in teacher-parent collaboration. It is parent involvement that has forced special education into the spotlight resulting in many amendments and modifications making special education the successful program it is today.
The other belief I will continue to stand by, as a teacher, is that the opportunity for creative expression is essential in elementary education. I love to write, sing, dance and act and it was in elementary school that I discovered my passion for writing and the performing arts. Many students are not exposed to the fine arts at home, which is why it is crucial for it to be incorporated into the classroom. Not only is it necessary to allow students to discover their talents and strengths, it is an important part of a successful education. Students need to learn how to express themselves in positive ways and I believe it is a teacher’s responsibility to help them find the facets in which to do so. Creativity is something that will stay with a student throughout the rest of their lives and can even influence their success in a future career. Speaking for myself, my love for theatre has guided many major decisions I have made as an adult and it was elementary school drama club that led me to the path I have chosen. Not all students are going to like writing, or singing, or any other passion of mine, but it is my job to open all doors to them. My responsibility is to simply spark the exploration and it is the student who will discover their own creative niche. Curriculum is extremely important to developing an education, but without creativity the knowledge will not be used to its potential.
Special education students have a hard time escaping the stereotypes and labels placed on them. They are usually described as “that boy with an intellectual disability,” or “that girl with ADD.” However, I believe exposing special education students to different ways of creative expression can turn “that boy with an intellectual disability” into “that boy who is really good at drawing,” and “that girl with ADD” to “that girl who is a math wiz.” Allowing special education students to discover their creative side will help them find their strengths and feel more confident about their skills than insecure about their disabilities. It is important for disabled students to focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t. What is so great about creativity is that is allows a person’s individuality to shine through allowing special education students to be seen as individuals rather than “the disabled.”
I think my teaching philosophies would work extremely well in an inclusion or self-contained classroom because they focus on providing positive support for all students and taking negative labels away and putting emphasis on student’s strengths instead. I think all students can benefit from these philosophies. What I know now after taking a number of different courses and reviewing my teaching principles, is that special education students generally benefit from the same methods that general education students do, which is why my educational beliefs can help all of my future students whether they have a disability or not. Because I feel that these philosophies have helped me get the most out of my school years, I vow to hold on to them as a teacher and help my future students get the most out of their education too.
One reason my education has always been such a positive influence in my life, is because of the unbelievable support system I had encouraging me to always try my best. The teacher was always the central figure in this system, but it was his or her responsibility to help build the rest of the support team. A teacher must deliver the positive feedback to a student in the classroom, but they need to make sure that feedback continues while that student is at home. I don’t believe any child should have to go home to an unstable environment and while I know that is not a realistic belief, I also know an education can help change that dynamic. A teacher has the power to create a relationship with a child’s parent(s) or guardian(s) and it is the step in sparking that relationship that will help create a support system in their student’s education. I believe an education should be a team effort between a student, their teacher and their parent(s) and it will be my job as the teacher to establish this collaboration with each and every one of my students and their families. I cannot expect a child to perform at their best when there is nobody at home encouraging them to do so. So while it is essential for a teacher to provide students with an unending amount of positive support, it is also their job to make sure everyone is involved in this process.
Special education is unique in that parents are required to sign off on all decisions made in their child’s educational plan and encouraged to attend all meetings centered around their child’s educational future. Special education provides evidence that supports my belief in teacher-parent collaboration. It is parent involvement that has forced special education into the spotlight resulting in many amendments and modifications making special education the successful program it is today.
The other belief I will continue to stand by, as a teacher, is that the opportunity for creative expression is essential in elementary education. I love to write, sing, dance and act and it was in elementary school that I discovered my passion for writing and the performing arts. Many students are not exposed to the fine arts at home, which is why it is crucial for it to be incorporated into the classroom. Not only is it necessary to allow students to discover their talents and strengths, it is an important part of a successful education. Students need to learn how to express themselves in positive ways and I believe it is a teacher’s responsibility to help them find the facets in which to do so. Creativity is something that will stay with a student throughout the rest of their lives and can even influence their success in a future career. Speaking for myself, my love for theatre has guided many major decisions I have made as an adult and it was elementary school drama club that led me to the path I have chosen. Not all students are going to like writing, or singing, or any other passion of mine, but it is my job to open all doors to them. My responsibility is to simply spark the exploration and it is the student who will discover their own creative niche. Curriculum is extremely important to developing an education, but without creativity the knowledge will not be used to its potential.
Special education students have a hard time escaping the stereotypes and labels placed on them. They are usually described as “that boy with an intellectual disability,” or “that girl with ADD.” However, I believe exposing special education students to different ways of creative expression can turn “that boy with an intellectual disability” into “that boy who is really good at drawing,” and “that girl with ADD” to “that girl who is a math wiz.” Allowing special education students to discover their creative side will help them find their strengths and feel more confident about their skills than insecure about their disabilities. It is important for disabled students to focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t. What is so great about creativity is that is allows a person’s individuality to shine through allowing special education students to be seen as individuals rather than “the disabled.”
I think my teaching philosophies would work extremely well in an inclusion or self-contained classroom because they focus on providing positive support for all students and taking negative labels away and putting emphasis on student’s strengths instead. I think all students can benefit from these philosophies. What I know now after taking a number of different courses and reviewing my teaching principles, is that special education students generally benefit from the same methods that general education students do, which is why my educational beliefs can help all of my future students whether they have a disability or not. Because I feel that these philosophies have helped me get the most out of my school years, I vow to hold on to them as a teacher and help my future students get the most out of their education too.