Kocka 1

Anna Kocka
Dr. Wasta
EDU 300
November 19, 2013
My Philosophy
As the years have shown, there are many ways to approach education. Many great
philosophies have been created as labels for the different types of education provided for
children in various atmospheres. One of these philosophies is the Progressive approach to
education. I perceive the progressive standpoint to be the most influential educational
approach. Progressive education provides students with a well-rounded and discovery-filled
education that well equips them for their life by teaching students the value of discovery,
how to solve social issues and how education is not always book focused.
The Purpose of Education
In my experience, education is the most meaningful when it is provided in such a
way that is applicable in life. Education should not just be what is learned through textbooks
and tests but also life knowledge and personal growth. Education is defined by the Webster
Dictionary as the knowledge and development resulting from an educational process and
not just as something gained through a school experience (Education). I believe students
should gain general knowledge through curriculum, but also learn to discover on their own
in their everyday life. Students who learn to love learning new things seem to go the furthest
in my opinion. I connect Deweys school system with this thought process as well. Dewey
believed school should teach general skills as well as traditional subjects. The vocational
skills they learned were easily applied to the students future job and enriched their learning

Kocka 2
process. Progressive education is extremely student centered. Teachers are viewed as more
of a guide or a coach than an actual teacher. Critical thinking skills are highly valued.
Students are not simply fed information. Rather, information is provided and students test it,
explore it and learn to apply it in various situations. Students are encouraged to take their
own approach to subjects and learn to apply concepts in a project that reflects their ability to
use the knowledge they have gained.
Curriculum
Curriculum is a major part of the educational system. Most curriculum is assigned by
the state and local level governments. The schools should allow the teachers in a progressive
school to have more of a say in what curriculum they wish to use in their own classroom.
This decision would add a bit of a cost to the curriculum purchase, but the value of teachers
choosing curriculum for their students is huge. In a progressive classroom it is important that
there are a multitude of application options. The teachers will be better aware of this need
than the government would be and therefore it is reasonable to desire the teachers to have a
say in curriculum purchase. Curriculum should be provided for the core classes like Math,
Science, English, and History. As before stated, an emphasis on application and exploration
should be strong in these textbooks and the classroom activities built around these texts.
Other extracurricular activities should also be provided for individuals. Theater, art and
music create outlets for students to express their personalities and life experiences. In my
opinion, the arts keep a student well rounded and are important for individual growth in an
age where technology reduces ones imagination.

Kocka 3
Curriculum should assist every type of learner in the classroom. Over the last 30
years a flood of immigration has changed the appearance of this countrys average student.
Currently ten percent of students in the United States public school system are English
Language learners, known as ELLs (Freeman 5). This ten percent cannot be forgotten. The
pull out method is no longer as common and for good reason. Pulling ELL students out of
mainstream classroom for specialized tutoring or putting all ELL students into one room for
teaching is no longer practical nor is it realistic. Classrooms need to have levels of
curriculum to match the levels of understanding. Students should not be excluded from their
home classroom simply because they speak a first language besides English. Different
strategies of teaching must be applied in order to include all learners in the classroom. Other
students are also a welcome resource when helping ELL students to learn more efficiently in
school. Pairing the stronger students with students who might be struggling can relieve some
stress for the teacher and enhance both the student tutor and the struggling students
experiences.
Learning styles are another issue that teachers must be aware of. In a national system
with a strong standardized test emphasis, it is hard for teachers to be fully aware of different
teaching methods that could be helpful for students who are not the typical learner. In a
behaviorist type classroom, the teacher lectures from the front of the room and pupils take
notes accordingly. For a student who does not learn well by simply listening, this setting will
not optimize their learning experience. Teachers must vary their teaching strategies in order
to give students a fair chance apart from their learning styles. This alternation of teaching
styles also helps keep students fully engaged in the classroom.

Kocka 4
NATURE OF THE LEARNER
In a progressive style school setting, students should be responsible learners. Since
teachers are viewed as guides or tutors, it is up to the student to learn the material and
explore information. Students are not fed facts in a progressive educational system. The
point of exploration and discovery is for the student to learn for themselves what each theory
or concept means. If students do not take responsibility for their learning they will not learn
in this setting. This respect for education should also be reflected in how students relate to
the school staff as well as their peers. Students must treat others with respect and dignity as
they would want to be treated. Teachers would also give respect to their students. Bullying
and harassment should be taken very seriously and students must take full responsibility for
their actions. Students should be friendly toward other students and welcoming of
newcomers. No new student should feel uncomfortable and excluded in a proper school
system. Students should be accepting of teachers and of correction. Teachers and
administrators are there to help students learn and grow and individuals. If students are
unwilling to work with those in authority, they will learn less from their school experience.
TEACHING METHODS
The classroom should be one of discovery and imagination. Students should be
intrigued by the very environment they are in. The teacher should, again, be aware of
different learning styles. Many students are visual learners and it would be helpful to have a
classroom that reflects this learning styles. Of course, some of the other learning styles, like
auditory learning, would be more difficult to reflect in the classroom, but maybe easier to
draw from during teaching. Creating an environment helpful for many learners is also a

Kocka 5
good way to keep students interested in learning. Students will be in the same rooms for 180
days each year and it is good to keep their learning environment exciting and intriguing. As
one student mentioned in class this semester, teachers can utilize the wall space for
interesting magazine covers, newspaper clippings, posters or pictures. If students see these
various interesting topics represented around the room they will then want to learn more
about those topics. This is one simple way for teachers to interest students in educational
topics like history or language. I also believe that although behaviorist style classrooms may
be more convenient for teachers, rows of desks do not help students learn better. If students
are around circle tables or in a ring of desks, discussion is improved. Of course, this
discussion style class is typically most helpful with middle school or high school and less
effective in elementary school when students are more easily distracted by others.
TEACHERS ROLE
Teachers in a progressive school should be an example of the respect expected from
students. When interacting with students, parents, other staff, or administrators, the teachers
must exemplify mature relationships with the assumption that students will be watching
their example. This would be portrayed through daily interactions with people teachers come
in contact with. For example, teachers would never use humiliation to discipline students
and would instead discuss the issue with them as an adult without an audience. If the issue
progressed then the administration would be involved in further disciplinary actions.
Teachers must not discuss issues with other teachers in front of students, seeing as that might
create a hostile or uncomfortable environment for both pupils and staff.

Kocka 6
Teachers show students many hidden curriculum during their everyday interactions.
My personal view on values is relatively conservative. Teachers should be models of
respect, kindness, good work ethic, responsibility, and other-centeredness. Some students
may not be receiving lessons in values at home and therefore the teachers must take it upon
themselves to show students how to live life in a way that they will be proud of in their later
years. Although this is clearly not the sole goal of any teacher, these important underlying
values are taught by every individual simply by the way they interact with the world around
them.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
My personal professional development will involve many sessions provided by
teachers with more experience than I. I believe there will still be much to be learned even
years after I begin teaching. Teachers must also be students. I will be a student of my
classroom, of the administration at my school and of any more educated individuals willing
to share wisdom. I also am aware of my lack of technological understanding. I believe this
will be a struggle for me and keeping that in mind, I plan to attend information sessions on
the latest technology provided in my classroom. It is important that teachers understand how
much to use technology to reinforce what is being taught and when to avoid technological
distractions. I must learn how to properly use the instruments in my classroom so I can use
them to the advantage of the students.
As a teacher I will also have to adjust my schedule so I go to bed earlier. This will be
important because I must make it to school promptly in order to keep my job. As a college
student, waking early is a struggle, but I believe through adjusting my schedule so I sleep

Kocka 7
earlier I will be able to wake earlier as well. I also need to discontinue my dependence on
caffeine to carry me through the day. Coffee is wonderful but I need to learn the discipline to
sleep on time and therefore not need to drink coffee in order to be a functioning human
being. Patience is a huge part of being an elementary school teacher. Although I feel I am a
patient person, I intend to continue and also improve this character trait. It is valuable in the
classroom setting but also in the adult world. I will be interacting daily with parents of
students, parents of potential students, other faculty and staff, and administration. Patience
plays a hand in dealing with all people in general and will be something I choose to improve
in myself. Many other personal characteristics will be strengthened over my teaching years.
I aim to be an understanding teacher with whom students wish to speak with- the kind of
teacher that students return to see years after passing on to another class. I want to be more
than a teacher and more of a role model for my students.

Kocka 8

Bibliography Page
"Education." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/education>.
"English Language Learners." National Center for Educational Statistics. N.p., n.d. Web. 12
Nov. 2013. <https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=96>.
Freeman, David E., and Yvonne S. Freeman. Between worlds: access to second language
acquisition. 3 ed. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2011. Print.