Philosophy of Education

Shannon Horan

Seton Hill University

 I remember heading off to preschool many years ago, not wanting to leave mommy and

daddy, and crying in the window of Tots University. Whether we realize it or not, preschool can

be a scary step for a child. There’s nothing too comforting about leaving home for the first time

and surrounding yourself with new people in a new environment. However, this is the first step

in a student’s school experience. We all hope to see children succeed in school from the moment

the enter to the moment they leave. Children are bound to hit bumps in the road, as we all did but

we as teachers are supposed to provide a welcoming and comfortable environment in which each

student can succeed. I believe that students should feel at home while at school. I want the

students in my future classroom to speak their minds, use their imagination, and explore. I never

want them to hold back. It is all about the children and encouraging them to be the best version

of themselves.

In my future classroom, I will promote learning through all domains. It is important to me

that all students are exposed to social, emotional, physical, and cognitive domains. I will promote

learning through group activities in order for children to interact with their peers and educators. I

love to see the children asking questions and playing together. For example, I will provide an art

enter for school projects and open art ideas, where students can share materials and explore

creativity. Along with these activities, students would be able to develop an understanding of

emotions and learn how to voice their feelings to those around them. If necessary, students will

also learn to control outbursts. Students of all ages can struggle to identify their feelings and

manage their behaviors. Increased peer interaction will promote positive and respectful

teamwork.

Regarding the physical domain, students in my future classroom will partake in many

activities that improve fine and gross motor skills. These will include a variety of both indoor
and outdoor activities. I believe that students need to be engaged in hands-on activities as often

as possible. Project based learning is an exceptional tool to be used in the classroom. I will

incorporate the cognitive domain by engaging in hypothetical and deductive reasoning. Children

will be challenged to channel their creativity and think “outside the box”. This will be done

through song, reading, storytelling, peer interaction, and a wide variety of engaging learning

activities. I believe that it is extremely important for each student to be provided with the

materials that will help them learn best. I understand that all students learn differently, and I must

create my lesson plans in a way that reaches each individual.

As for classroom assessment, I believe that it is important to incorporate a wide variety of

formative, summative, and performance-based assessments. Formative assessment tends to come

directly after a lesson is delivered. Formative assessments can be completed by teacher

evaluation or student self-assessment. I plan to use both in my future classroom. For example,

an exit slip may be graded by the teacher and a self-checklist may be completed by the student.

Therefore, formative assessment is beneficial to both the student and the teacher in highlighting

material that the student understood and what aspects of the lesson may need to be retaught or

reviewed. The constructive criticism or feedback is both specific and immediate so that changes

can be made as soon as possible. Summative assessment on the other hand, is typically used at

the end of a unit, semester, or school year. Summative assessments are the method of assessment

used to help make course placement decisions. For example, whether or not Student A is ready to

move on from second grade and enter third grade. Types of summative assessment may include,

unit testing, standardized testing, and even benchmark or interim assessments. I believe that

testing is not an ideal form of assessment but can be necessary in certain situations. These exams

are usually aligned with learning targets and state standards often guiding students in meeting
their learning goals. Gray areas can occur when clear directions are not given, students guess on

answers, or students are not provided with enough time to complete the exam to the best of their

ability. However, when completed properly, the results can be helpful in accurately measuring

student understanding and ability. These results benefit students, teachers, and families as they

can be shared with parents and guardians. Lastly, performance based assessment can be

beneficial when trying to incorporate a more interactive method of assessment into your

classroom. Performance assessment requires students to complete a task rather than simply

selecting an answer from a pre-made list. Some examples of performance based assessments

include presentations, portfolios, and debates. These hands on assessment methods reach

kinesthetic learners and get students up and moving. Performance assessments also encourage

peer interaction which enhances the student’s social skills. I believe that each type of assessment

brings its own list of positives into the classroom. I plan to incorporate each type of assessment

into my future classroom based on the group of students I have at a specific time. Again, all

students learn differently and therefore should be assessed accordingly.

Overall, my goal as an educator is to teach to the whole child. Reaching the whole child

means that each student will be learning in a safe community that is engaged, supported, and

challenged. I want each of my future students to feel a level of comfort and trust when walking

into my classroom each and everyday. I want each child to remember the feeling of being in my

classroom even after they move onto new grade levels. I hope that each one of my students feels

positively impacted by my teaching and takes at least one important life lesson with them as they

continue on their individual paths to success. Children will grow into our future leaders and it is

my responsibility to aid them in reaching their goals.