Crystal Villa

Professor Jaqueline Sgobba

EDU 201

12/10/21

Education Philosophy

Perennialism is A subject-centered philosophy. Perennialist goals are to educate their

students to think rationally and develop their minds to think critically. In this Philosophy skills

are developed in a sequential manner; the teachers are the main actors on the stage. A teacher

who is a perennialist aims to make their classroom closely organized and a well-disciplined

environment. A perennialist teacher believes in a prepared effort to make ideas available to

students and to guide them through their process of understanding through works such as

literature.

Essentialism is a subject-centered philosophy. essentialist educators focus on transmitting

a series of progressively difficult topics and promoting students to the next level. Subjects are

focused on the historical context of the material world and culture and give an understanding of

the present day. Essentialism is common in US public schools today.

Progressivists believe that individuals progress in change and is fundamental to one’s

education, they also believe that people learn best from what they consider the most relevant to

their lives. They structure the curriculum to the needs of student experiences, interests, and

abilities. They emphasize group activity and group problem-solving so that students may learn
through cooperative learning strategies. This educational philosophy tests student ideas by active

experimentation and learning are rooted in equations of learners that arise through experiencing

the world. There are some schools in the U.S that follow this philosophy.

Social reconstruction educators believe that school should serve the purpose of preparing

students to be critical analysts of global issues and practice this through reading writing and

discussing significant social issues, multi-cultural studies, community-based project learning and

field studies, to bring the world into the classroom through programs and guest speakers.

My educational philosophy is progressivism. I believe that individuality, progress, and

change are important to a student's education. When I become an educator, I will emphasize

group activity and group problem solving so that students learn through cooperative learning

strategies. I am delighted to say that I am pursuing a career in Elementary Education. When I

was a young girl, I always dreamt of becoming a teacher. I have always loved working with kids,

ever since I was a teenager. At the age of 13, I started to babysit my younger relatives. I would

create challenging games for them and tell amusing stories. One of the games my relatives

enjoyed playing most was “school”. I of course played as the teacher. It has been over ten years

and I am eager to graduate and successfully become a teacher. During my field observation of

the fall semester of 2021, I had the opportunity to observe a kindergarten teacher and her class. I

deeply appreciated this experience. I was able to fully grasp the concept of teachers teaching

their students, and the students learning. This teacher is an experienced teacher who has been

teaching for twenty-five years. She was adamant about being organized, she believed it was

crucial to have the days be organized so that she could optimize instructional time. The students

were adjusted to their routine, and I agree with the teacher, the students did learn better this way.
They were always prepared to learn and knew what to expect. I am now aware of different

techniques for delivering instruction as a future educator. I appreciate that I can use the

knowledge I now possess in my future classroom and have the qualities of an effective teacher.

According to the website The Children's School Info, “John Dewey was an American

philosopher and educator who was a pioneer in functional psychology and is the father of

progressive education theory. John Dewey believed students should take part in their learning

through active, hands-on work, and believed that a curriculum that is relevant to the students'

interests is best for teaching the "whole child." He urged educators to "teach the child, not the

subject." Today as a college student, I look back on my earliest years of schooling, elementary.

That is a crucial time of a student's education. I struggled with subjects such as math. I was

frustrated with myself and did not understand why most of my classmates understood the lesson

and I did not. I believe if I had been taught cooperative learning strategies, I may have caught on

with the lessons better.

Progressive teaching differs from other methods in several important ways. First, it is

inquiry and project-based. This means that rather than being handed a set of facts or ideas to be

memorized and tested on later, students are encouraged to create their meaning through

discussion. Progressive teaching is also unique as its focus is on the whole student as an

individual with social and emotional as well as academic needs.

A few examples of strategies I will implement into my future classroom will be to create

ongoing projects, integrate technology, replace homework with engaging in-class activities,

eliminate rules and consequences, and involve students in evaluation. It is an essential role when
doing ongoing projects. The ongoing project helps stimulate workshop environments that are the

foundation of student-centered classrooms. Integrating technology is now the norm for student

learning. Students are engaging more with activities or projects provided by free web tools that

provide excellent platforms for presenting, curation, and sharing information. During my field

observation, the students were always excited to use chrome books. They had lesson plans,

games, and stories to browse through. Replacing homework with engaging in-class activities or

assignments, students are more eager to complete projects they have created in class and

continue when they are home. By setting the tone for a classroom on the first day of class, you

can Eliminate rules and consequences. Explain that the learning environment is built on mutual

respect and is a quest for knowledge, then there will not be time for any behavior issues. The

kindergarten teacher I observed had no rules or consequences for her classroom, but she was a

big advocate for respect and kindness. This teacher explained students always showed respect

and kindness toward everything including classmates, teachers, staff, classroom, and materials as

well as other students and their classroom. A progressive student-centered environment thrives

through the use of narrative feedback. This approach relies on feedback between the student and

the teacher. When students are involved in a conversation about their learning, it builds trust and

helps them become critics of their work.

I am currently in the second year of my education program at the College of Southern

Nevada. I have completed my second field observation which is required for the Elementary

Education program. I have also done service-learning projects that have allowed me to

understand diversity and inclusion. There are many steps to take to become a teacher. According

to the textbook Becoming a Teacher; to become a qualified teacher you would need to have a

bachelor's degree, full state certification, and knowledge of each subject. During the journey to
becoming a teacher, as a student, you will be immersed in the world of professional standards

such as the teacher education program you are enrolled in. During the training, you are likely to

hear plans repeatedly from the state department. Even once you become a teacher you will learn

more about the state's standards. Completion of a college or university teacher preparation

program will not automatically enable you to teach. State licensure is required for teaching in

schools. Nationwide, forty-seven states require completion of the Praxis Tests developed by

Educational Testing Service (ETS). Praxis core covers skills such as reading, writing, and

mathematical skills that teachers will need.

Works Cited

• Five Steps to Create a Progressive, Student-Centered Classroom by Marc Barnes

https://www.ascd.org/blogs/five-steps-to-create-a-progressive-student-centered-
classroom

• Four Educational Philosophies: A Brief Overview by Howard Miller of Mercy College,

Dobbs Ferry, New York to Kaleidoscope Open Course Initiative.
https://lumen.instructure.com/courses/211470/pages/four-philosophies-overview

• Parkay, Forrest W. Becoming a Teacher. 11th edition, Boston, MA : Pearson Education