My Beliefs on Learners and Learning
I believe the best way for children to learn is through a mixture of discipline and openmindedness. A firm and strict environment is necessary in order to focus on the task at hand and complete assignments. However, the other side of successful learning is to have a compassionate, supportive environment in which to learn. Also, discovering the best way one learns and mastering it is just as important as accepting opportunities to learn in different ways.
My Overall Philosophy
In my opinion, learning should be student-centered and geared towards developing learners who are critical thinkers and who can problem-solve to find answers to questions in a variety of contexts. Children learn by doing, and therefore they must be actively involved and interested in their learning environments. A mixture of group work via large group, small group, and pairs compliments individual work to reach a variety of learning styles. Not only does differentiation in group types make learning exciting, it also prepares students to collaborate in a social world. Working together is a necessary skill to develop in the classroom, within a family, at work, and in many other aspects of life.
I believe in fostering a variety of intelligences within the minds of students. Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences is a philosophy I exemplify in my teaching. I aim to implement many kinds of learning styles into my instruction.
Effective teachinig is multi-faceted and self-reflective. Instruction must be well-rounded and flexible to fit students' needs. However, effective self-reflection undoubtedly leads to better teaching. The teacher who constantly reflects on how he or she can get better will always surpass the teacher who believes he or she is already the best. Constant self-knowledge and knowledge of our students are necessary to make sure we tap into their young minds and motivate them to learn.
As far as curriculum theory, I pull heavily on Reconstructionist Theory, because I want my students to become knowledgeable of their social surroundings, and question what needs to improve and how it can be improved. I feel strongly about teaching students to question, rather than to accept the information that is given to them in the traditional "tea pot" education.
Please see the graphic below for a visual of my educational philosophy.
My Beliefs on Teachers and Teaching
One of the most important concepts to remember as teachers is that we are also learners. The amount of information we can learn from our students through classroom and everyday interactions should not be underestimated. As teachers, we must always be open to re-assessing ourselves and our methods to ensure students are benefiting in their learning.