My Educational Philosophy

by Erica R. Plappert

Teaching is my lifelong dream. The opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child is my primary motivator. As an elementary school teacher, I will educate children, engage them in learning, and prepare them for future academic and societal roles and expectations. I will develop a strong network of support with coworkers, administrators, and peers to better myself as a teacher. In addition, I will strive to continue learning each and every day.

Education has several crucial roles. As a teacher, I will do everything that I can to advance my students to the best of their abilities. Furthermore, I will provide opportunities for socialization. Through social situations, enforcement of classroom rules from day one, and a supportive environment, I will work to prepare my students to be responsible members of society. They will show respect, manners, and acceptance among other invaluable traits.

Students play an enormous role in effective learning. I will encourage my students to contribute frequently in order to maintain ownership of their own learning. My classroom is their classroom. I expect students to give their all and work to the best of their abilities. I believe that students should attempt all tasks and that they should ask for extra help when it is needed. In return, I will promote learning through engaging, fun, understandable lessons. The lessons will be tailored to individual needs and experiences whenever possible and will vary in structure throughout the day to maintain interest. I will also provide a warm, supportive learning environment.

I believe that teachers should use a variety of materials, resources, and teaching strategies (i.e. hands-on, cooperative learning, etc.) in their instruction. This variety will allow education to take place for different learning styles and needs. Furthermore, students are more likely to remain engaged, interested, and involved and are less likely to become bored or cause trouble. It is important to reflect on what and how I am teaching both during and after the lesson. In addition, I will be prepared to change my lesson during instruction if I notice that it is not working. Students should understand the importance of learning each unit and I will do my best to make sure that my students know why they are learning.

The role of the teacher is absolutely crucial to an effective education. I believe that teachers should be organized, prepared, and flexible in order to handle situations that may arise. Lesson plans should be detailed and tailored to best fit the students’ needs. Teachers should be energetic, enthusiastic, and firm. In addition, they should be friendly, but never a friend. As a teacher, I will go the extra mile to help my students and will never give up on any child. I will constantly learn about my content areas, educational issues, and how to best deal with my students’ needs and backgrounds. I will strive to be creative in dealing with problems and management issues. Lastly, I will motivate and challenge my students while providing a constructive learning environment. Effective education requires cooperation by teachers, students, administration, parents, and the community. We must all work together to better the lives and knowledge of our children.