Running head: MY EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

My Educational Philosophy
Ana Jimenez
Salt Lake Community College

MY EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

As a future teacher, progressivism and social reconstruction are the two philosophies that
best suit me. These philosophies describe me as a teacher, because student projects, activities,
and class discussions are a big portrayal of how I learned to love and respect school. I like to
involve students in proactive thinking, addressing social problems, and having them relate and
understand the topic.
Progressivism in education, emphasizes real world problem solving and individual
development (Kauchak & Eggen, 2014, p. 157.) As a progressivists, I believe that creating
connections and applying them to real world situations, will help students understand the
material, and why it is being taught to them in the first place. Engaging classroom activities, not
only get the students eager to participate but it also makes learning enjoyable. A constructive
demonstration would be experimenting. For example, rather than lecturing your students about
volcanoes, have them create their own mini volcanos in groups. This will interest students in the
subject in hand, while still learning about pressure build up in the earths atmosphere.
As an educational philosophy, social reconstruction is asserting that schools, teachers,
and students should take the lead in addressing social problems and improving society (Kauchak
& Eggen, 2014, p. 159.) The targeted focus of social reconstruction is to eliminate inequalities,
by beginning a just and equal environment in the classroom. To exemplify this, lets take
segregation. Rosa Parks who was a civil right activist, would be an important topic to discuss in
a classroom. Rosa Parks believed in social equality by fighting for equal rights against
segregation. This takes a humanist approach because, students individually shape their own
importance of the Civil Right movement and the significance to treat all humans with equality
and respect.

MY EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

As an educator, both progressivism and social reconstruction will reflect on my teaching

skills, as I involve with my students on a conversational level. Students will be engaged and
active, during classroom activities that will help them understand the topic by reflecting it to
their own lives. Because I expect my students to be actively learning, I understand that my
classroom could get loud. However, I presume that my students will be involved and discussing
the subject with their peers. In regards to managing my classroom, I believe that because the
students will be participating, there would be little to no reinforcement needed to get them back
into the material in hand.
In conclusion, when I see myself teaching in a classroom I visualize an active, fun
environment. By creating a safe and community like atmosphere, I will involve my students in
projects, experiments, and class discussions. Involving the students in proactive thinking,
addressing social problems, and having them relate and understand the topic will all be a part of
my teaching principles. This is why progressivism and social reconstruction are the two
philosophies that best suit me.

MY EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

References:
Barnes, M. (2013, May 13). Five Steps to Create a Progressive, Student-Centered ... Retrieved
October 3, 2016, from http://inservice.ascd.org/five-steps-to-create-a-progressive
student-centered-classroom/
E., Romanelli, J., E., & E. (n.d.). Theodore Brameld (19041987). Retrieved October 04, 2016,
from http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1800/Brameld-Theodore-1904-1987.html
Kauchak, D., & Eggen, P. (2014). Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a professional (pp.148171). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES IN EDUCATION. (n.d.). Retrieved October 03, 2016,
from http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/ed416/PP3.html