Anna Mc Gowan

My Philosophy Statement 27th August 2014

As an Early Childhood teacher I am responsible for providing positive learning experiences. I strive to
model respect, patience, and care for children and adults I come into contact with. Children have the right to
have their needs met and receive a quality educational program whether it is inside or outside. It should
reect the cultural context of their home life. It should be lled with fun, warmth and excitement in a safe
and secure place.

As a teacher, I seek to form close relationship with each child under my care, and their families. I
make use of our communities' resources and incorporate the childs community into the program. I
see each child as a unique individual with a great capacity to learn and able to make positive
contributions to those around him or her. I strive to provide an environment where children and
families from different cultural backgrounds feel welcomed and accepted.

I believe that parents and families know their children best. I value their input and knowledge of
their children to contribute to their childrens learning.

I believe that children learn through play. It is the way they explore, discover and learn about their world,
each other and themselves.

I believe that each child in my care is unique and can reach their fullest potential through stimulating
activities and experiences which are designed from observing children in their play as individuals and
groups.I will provide a range of open ended experiences, free choice shelf/tables and encourage our children
to help with decision making within their own room. I favour the use of unstructured play materials where
the process is valued over the end product. Then scaffolding on their current interest to provide the most fun
and educational experience for the child challenging their abilities to reach their fullest potential.

I believe that children guide their learning from their interests and experiences that they bring into the
centre, which is the basis of my program, that are developed and evaluated each day to ensure active and
progressive learning.

I believe in respecting children by taking time to listen to childrens ideas and concerns and in turn
support or extend them .

I believe that our parents should be given the opportunity to assist at the centre through
excursions,incursions, and family days.

Teaching is a lifelong learning process of learning about new philosophies and new strategies, learning from
the parents and community, learning from colleagues, and especially learning from the children. Children
have taught me to open my mind and my heart to the joys, the innocence, and the diversity of ideas in the
world. Because of this, I will never forget how to smile with the new, cherish the old, and laugh with the
children.

My goal as a teacher is to provide children with a rich environment where they feel safe to explore,
initiate learning, and feel free to express themselves.

As a facilitator, I support children as they embark on a journey to make discoveries about themselves and
learn to recognise and name their feelings.

I believe that every child has the right to a full education in a safe and inclusive Kindergarten where they are
given the opportunity to grow emotionally, physically, socially and intellectually regardless of their
uniqueness and their background. I believe that every student has the capacity to be successful not only in
Kindergarten but also in life; every individual has a gift and a contribution to offer to his/her community. A
teachers role is to help students to nd their gift so that they become condent and thriving individuals.