Jen Sawyer

asawyer79@csm.edu

 

Teaching Philosophy

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My Educational Philosophy

My educational philosophy is a work in progress.  The beliefs I have are mostly based on my personal experiences as a student.  In my opinion, I had an unusual educational experience as a child.  My parents divorced when I was five years old.  From that point on, I attended many different schools throughout my elementary education and two schools in high school.  I attended public and private schools in a number of states across the United States.  Some of those states include: Iowa, Nebraska, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.  As a student in middle school, I decided to follow in my parents’ footsteps and go to boarding school.  At that time, I was attending a public Jr. High School in Fairfield Iowa, where I lived with my mother.  I checked out a book on boarding schools at the library and researched which school I wanted to attend.  I decided on a performing arts school in Natick, MA.  After getting letters of recommendation from teachers, and writing an essay on why I should be accepted, I was soon on my way across the United States at the age of thirteen.  It was an exciting and scary venture, and one I will always be glad I decided to do. After two years in boarding school far away from home, I decided to leave and live with my Aunt and Uncle in Omaha, NE.  I finished my high school education in an all girls Catholic School that many of my Aunts previously attended. Although my childhood was not of the norm, I was able to learn many things that have molded me into the person that I am today.  I have bits and pieces of different memories of teachers that have influenced me throughout the years.  My memories hold vividly teachers with whom I will always recall fondly.  Other teachers, with whom I do not recall as fondly, I now realize, have also taught me valuable lessons.  I plan to take all of my experiences and apply them to the style of teacher I am striving to become.  That being said, my beliefs as they are today are as follows.  

My beliefs about teaching and learning are:

·         I believe that every person has something positive to contribute to our world. Therefore, I will teach my students to find their talents and eventually reach beyond themselves to give something positive back to our world.

My beliefs about students are:

My beliefs about knowledge are:

My beliefs about what is worth knowing are:

      I plan to use a combination of different aspects of the five educational philosophies within my classroom and teaching style.  I will apply the social reconstructivism philosophy by teaching the importance of service learning to my students.  This “hands on” approach to making a difference in one’s community is something I feel cannot be taught in a classroom.  The views of the progressivism philosophy will be introduced to my students by the idea that knowledge is essential to the preparation for the unknowns in life.  I will encourage social development and individual interests through a classroom community of students to help my students become aware of the correlation between learning in the classroom and the world around them.  I will use the techniques of the perennialism philosophy by teaching the classics of the past and their relevancy to society today.  I believe every student is a thoughtful being who deserves the opportunity of intellectual growth through the arts and science.  In addition to the idea of learning through the classics, I agree with the essentialism philosophy and its emphasis of importance of basic core knowledge which every child should have.  Without the basic knowledge of the three R’s difficulties will arise in the processes of higher order thinking and mastery level learning which is what I will strive for in my classroom.  The existentialism philosophy will be taught in my classroom through individualized curriculum.  I will introduce lessons using a multidisciplinary approach in order to help each student to discover themselves and the learning style that is best suited for him/her.  I hope to become a teacher that will be remembered by her students in a positive way.  Not to say that I think I will always be liked by all my students.  I will strive to inspire greatness in each of my students.  I will remain fair and consistent, and treat each of my students as well as my favorite teachers treated me.  I believe that every person has something positive to contribute to our world.  Therefore, I will teach my students to find their talents and eventually reach beyond themselves to give something positive back to our world.