Guadalupe Lopez Guiza

Professor Christensen

Edu. 201-2002

November 15, 2018

Philosophy of Education

To be an educator is much more than the benefits, salaries, and the hours. To be an educator is to dedicate

yourself to helping our future students. To encourage young children to work hard. To help them get

ready for the world outside the school campus. So, why do I want to be an educator? What skills do I have

to succeed in this profession? How did my field of observation help me understand the teaching

environment? What philosophical orientation fits me best? What helped set the stage for how I think

about children and schools? What strategies will I implement and How will I approach students’ needs

and diversity. Which skills do I still need to possess? My plan to reach my goals and the requirements for

teacher licensure.

First of all, the reason I am choosing this profession is that I want a career where I can help people. Being

an educator does that. Teachers help and make an impact on the lives of their students. If teachers are

doing their job correctly from my point of view, then they should be remembered by their students.

Students should be walking out of that classroom at the end of the school year with new knowledge and

skills. I want to be the teacher that students go to for help, who encourages students to move towards

success. Besides, when I was in high school, I was a teacher's aide for a 9​th​ grade teacher. Her name was

Ms. Kirby. I was in her 5th period, which was after lunch. I wasn't sure if the students were disruptive

because they just came from lunch or if that's how they behave in other classes. Ms. Kirby never lost

patience towards the reckless students. Instead, she would talk to them and give them options to help and

assist them in class. Ms. Kirby inspired me to be a teacher. Also, some personal skill set that will serve

me in this profession is my patience, time management, and collaboration. Patience is an important skill
that will assist me in the future. Partly because not all students will be obedient and rule followers so,

there will issue and having patience will help solve this issues and help to communicate well with

students and parents. Time management is also an essential skill that will serve me in this profession.

Being able to manage time will be helpful every single day because there are lessons and materials to be

taught in one day and objectives to meet. Teamwork is also essential to work with co-workers in creating

lesson plans. Finally, going to the field of observation helped me understand the teaching environment,

because when I was observing my cooperating teacher most of her students were always listening,

participating, and trying their best. Sometimes she did have to use "attention getters." I also learned that

one student can disrupt the whole learning environment. During the lesson, the teacher will walk around

and observe the students. If she saw something wrong she would help the student. When it was time to

switch from a subject to another subject, the teacher and the student always did a quick movement activity

so the students can find their concentration again.

Educational philosophy and philosophical orientation that fits my current beliefs about education

is existentialism. Existentialism philosophy stresses the importance of the individual and emotional

commitment to living authentically. I will be accepting towards all my future students with a positive

attitude. I believe that every student is special in their own way. Every child can learn and will want to

learn; they just need a teacher to support and encourage them. They are historical events that have set the

stage for how I think about children and school. In 1873, the first public kindergarten was founded. In

1875, Francis W. Parker stressed “quality of teaching”, by implementing activities like creative

self-expression, understanding the individual, and development of personality. In 1950, teachers were put

in the spotlight because schools had long been under the sway of progressive education. Finally, in 1893

The Committee of the 15 were appointed to examine the elementary curriculum. These historical events

helped set the stage for how I think about children and schools, because all of these events were why

schools and the way to teach student have improved over the years.
Instructional strategies that I will implement are integrating technology because today’s generations are

already familiar with iPads, phones, and computers. I think by integrating technology students will be

more engaged in lessons because students will be already familiar with the equipment. Another strategy is

cooperative learning, I will implement is to encourage students to work in groups with partners. This

strategy is to help students develop confidence in their own ideas and to share their thoughts with their

peers. This is how I will approach students learning, student diversity, and variability, and assessment. I

will approach students by doing hands-on activities, read-aloud activities, and note-taking. All activities

will be for every student learning style. Approaching diversity in the classroom will be making a

connection with students, identifying diversity in the classroom, and providing a variety of tools for the

students to meet the needs of each student. Variability and assessment in the classroom are done by

avoiding generalization.

Characteristics and skills that I need to possess to continue in this career are patience, dedication, ability

to teach, and leadership. Patience is a skill that I already possess, even though I already have this skill I

feel like I can still work on it and improve it. Dedication, in my opinion, is a very important characteristic

every teacher should have because of the extra time that is invested in this career. This career is not like

other careers where workers can go home and rest. Teachers have to use their personal time to grade, and

plan lessons among other things. Another skill is being able to teach. Being able to teach the lesson to

students, so they can learn and understand the subject is crucial to their academic careers. Currently,

professors and education staff are worried that high schools are graduating students that are not college

prepared. Leadership is another skill that I need to possess in this career path. Leadership is the most

important skill because students need a leader to lead them through the day, especially in elementary

school. Specific steps that I will take to achieve my goals and the requirements for teacher licensure are

for one to finish all of my required courses for the Associate Degree. I must prepare for all three subjects

for the Praxis test, volunteer at places to communicate well with people and children. Gaining
communication skill experience is a way to continue in this career, so I can communicate well with

students, parents, and school staff.

In conclusion, I choose this profession because I want to help people. Being an educator helps

students and makes an impact on them to achieve success. I was inspired by my teacher in high school.

My personal skill set that will serve in this profession are patience, time management, and collaboration.

Philosophy orientation is what best fits me as Existentialism philosophy. The historical events that have

marked my point of view of schools and children helped shaped schools and curriculum. Instructional

strategies that I implement in the classroom are using technology, and cooperative learning.

Characteristics and skills that I need to possess to continue in this career are dedication, patience, and

leadership. Steps I need to achieve my goals and requirements for teacher licensure are passing my Praxis

test, completing all courses, and volunteering to gain skills and experience.