Running Head: MY PERSONAL PHILISOPHY OF EDUCATION

My Personal Philosophy of Education

Jessica A. Williams
Regent University

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MY PERSONAL PHILISOPHY OF EDUCATION

A personal philosophy of education is something that I believe all educators must think
about and change regularly. A teachers personal philosophy should include what a teacher
believes about instructional strategies, interaction with students, and management of the
classroom. My personal philosophy is based on what I have read, classroom discussion,
practicum and student teaching experience. The foundation of my teaching philosophy stems
from my Christian belief that every child should be treated with love. The job of the teacher is to
cater to students needs. Also, their job is to create an environment of learning with classroom
procedures that guide their day to help motivate their students behavior.
First, teaching should be student centered. It can start with something as simple as chair
arrangement. I have found through my classroom experience that student-centered teacher is
easier than teacher-focused teaching. I say it is easier because the student centered classroom has
the students doing all the work. However, I am not talking about busywork. I mean that there are
classroom routines, small group and whole group lesson happening and the lessons main focus
is students finding out the answers for themselves. The lesson is helping students to transfer the
knowledge from the lesson into their own lives (Partin, 2009). Another component of student
based learning is differentiation. I do believe that is important for a teacher to think about when
if there are a variety of learning levels in the classroom. In order to help students gain success
and progress in learning, it is important for the teacher to determine the needs of the students and
either teach the basics or go deeper if that child needs more stimulation. In differentiated
classrooms, teachers ensure that a student competes against himself as he grows and develops
more than he competes against other students (Tomlinson, 1999, p. 2).

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The next principle I believe that teachers should hold dear is their idea of great classroom
management. Components of classroom management are procedures and routines. In order to
have an effective classroom the teacher must set up routines for turning in homework, papers,
where to do work, library, bathroom, and hallway behavior. All of this plays into classroom
management. If these are not set up the teacher will not have student learning occurring.
Children need structure in the classroom. A student cannot learn if they do not feel secure in the
classroom (Wong &Wong, 1998, p. 170). Procedures for how tasks should be done are
important. Although a teacher wants their students to be independent learners, there has to be
guidelines for behavior.
One thing that I have noticed during my student teaching experience is that classroom
management has a lot to do with incentives. Although a teacher wants their students to be
intrinsically motivated to do their work and behave in the classroom, most of the time it takes
incentives for the student to be motivated. I believe that it is important for students to have daily,
weekly and monthly goals. This keeps them accountable. In order for the child to succeed on a
daily basis the promise of a prize, or points can help a child keep on task. I do think that a variety
of rewards is more effective. I have seen kids get complacent because the reward they are
promised had lost its appeal (Partin, 2009, p. 38).
I decided to be a teacher because I believe it is what God called me to do. When I start
teaching at a school, I plan for my Christian beliefs to be shown through my actions. Titus 2:7
says, Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works and in your teaching show
integrity (English Standard Version). As a teacher I must be a role model to my students of not

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just what they should learn, but in my everyday action. Although a child may continually be
disobedient I still plan to treat them with love and correct them in love and not act differently
toward them. Teacher are held in high accountability by the Lord and we will judged with
greater strictness (James 3:1-2 ESV). However, if I practice the principles mentioned above I
believe I will be up to the challenge.

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Reference
Partin, R. L. (2009). The classroom teacher's survival guide: practical strategies, management
techniques, and reproducibles for new and experienced teachers; [grades K - 12] (3. ed.).
San Francisco, Calif.: Jossey-Bass.
Tomlinson, C. (1999). The differentiated classroom: Responding to the needs of all learners.
Alexandria, Va.: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). The first days of school: how to be an effective
teacher (Second ed.). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.