Overall, the main foundational concept of my philosophy of education is that it will continue to change and evolve throughout my teaching career as I learn new things and grow professionally. At this point in time, I have developed it around the four commonplaces of schooling which are the teacher, the learner, the subject matter and the milieu.
First, I believe that it is the teacher’s role to ensure that each student is provided with opportunities within the classroom to reach their full potential through a variety of methods and teaching strategies such as inquiry and project based learning as well as teaching towards the various multiple intelligences. Students must also be validated within the classroom on a number of levels whether it is personal, cultural or religious and not excluded through what subject matter is being taught; it is the teacher’s responsibility to do so.
In regards to the learner, I strongly believe that fairness within a classroom is providing each student with what they personally need to learn since each student is a unique individual and should not be grouped together and thus have their abilities catered to equally. Subject matter plays a vital role within the classroom and because of this; it must be made relevant to the student’s lives in order for it to be, ultimately, remembered. Each and every subject is important and because of this, none should be excluded or given too much of a preference over the other.
In accordance with school goals, it is crucial to find a balance between them and the curriculum material in order to create the best experiences for the students. Finally, one must be aware of the community that the students come from in order to not only understand them better but also to open their eyes to the whole picture that exists beyond the classroom.
