Running head: PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT 1

Philosophy Statement

Sarah Moyer

Mount Aloysius College

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Philosophy Statement

My philosophy on teaching is that the classroom should be focused on the students and

not the teacher. I believe it is important that the classroom is a place where the students should

learn, play, express themselves, and feel safe while doing so. I feel that it is my job to guide the

children in the activities they are participating in and that it is my duty to protect the children.

While they are in my classroom, they are my responsibility, so I will protect them at all costs.

Another duty I believe I have as an educator is acting as a role model. When I was in high

school, I looked up to one of my teachers. He was my favorite teacher because he would not only

care about the students’ academic life while in school, but he would also care about our lives

outside of school. He always made sure that the focus was on us and not on him.

In order to reach my goal of having the classroom focused on the children and not on the

teacher, I will use teaching strategies such as allowing them to do hands-on activities and use

different technologies. I think it is more beneficial for the children to be doing hands-on

activities and interacting among each other rather than countless worksheets. I think that it is my

job to guide them in these activities. The students should be willing to learn and I should be

willing to guide them. Another strategy I will use is giving the children choices. Every child has

a different way of learning and doing things, so giving them choices will allow them to learn in

their own style. As a future educator, flexibility is a trait that I believe I should have. This, along

with giving them choices, can allow them to figure themselves out and express themselves. Each

student learns in their own ways and at their own pace, so being flexible and including lessons

that cover the multiple intelligences would be beneficial to the students. They are still figuring
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out who they are, so by allowing them to do these things, they will be more successful in their

search.

Classroom management strategies also play an important role in how I plan to reach my

goals. I will use strategies such as providing a safe and organized environment, using positive

reinforcement with the children, and having several centers in the classroom for the children to

engage in. By providing a safe and organized environment, the children can focus on learning

rather than worrying over their safety. By using positive reinforcement, the children will

understand what behaviors are acceptable and desired in the classroom and will be more likely to

display these behaviors. By having several centers in the classroom, the children can engage in

different activities and allow them to socialize while doing hands-on activities.

I will assess the students’ understanding of materials by having them reflect on what they

learned. I will have them write a sentence or two about what they learned from the material. I

will also have them share with other students. This will allow the students to gain more

information from their peers. I do not want them to know the information, but to also be able to

understand why it is important to know. Harry Wong once said, “In an effective classroom,

students should not only know what they are doing, they should also know why and how”. I may

also assign them a project at the end of a large unit. For example, I would give them choices of

telling the class what they learned, making an informative poster, or other hands-on projects that

explain what they have learned. I will also use similar strategies in order to prepare them for

various tests. For example, in order to prepare the students for the PSSA, I would create games

for them to play. Games like around the world, matching games, and pictionary would allow
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them to make learning fun. I would also assess the students based on their homework, but I

would never grade their homework.

I can serve all students well by being honest with them, communicating with them and

their families, and by being completely devoted to them. I believe that, if I am honest with them,

I will be able to create a relationship with them and build trust. If I communicate with them and

their families, I can build upon that relationship even further. The families should be involved in

their child’s life and should know what they are learning about. I will have a classroom

newsletter and a classroom website so that they know what is happening in the students’ lives at

school. Students should expect me to be a caring, proactive, supportive, and energetic teacher

who wants the best for each and every one of them. They should know that I am always there for

them if they should ever need to talk about anything.

I believe it is important for a teacher to be proactive, active, reasonable, caring,

consistent, and skeptical. I believe it is also important for a teacher to be flexible and have

“withitness”. The school also plays an important role in society. I believe the school should be a

safe place where students go to learn and identify their own personal interests and abilities. It

should be a place where you learn how to socialize with others and develop teamwork skills. To

me, learning means that the students are gaining knowledge of a skill or of information. If they

practice the skill or study the information, they will master this knowledge.