Philosophy of Education LauraLyn Terherst 11/11/2013

My motivation for choosing to pursue a career in education is fueled by my passion for teaching young people and my desire to influence the future of my community, my state, and my country. I can think if no better way to touch the lives of children than by becoming a teacher. By creating an environment conducive to learning and investing in the potential of our students, I am ultimately investing in the future of our world. I believe respect is an important factor in every area of life especially in the classroom. In order to create an environment that encourages learning, I will model respect for each student by demonstrating acceptance for personal opinions, diversity, and religious and cultural differences. By modeling respect to my students, I will set the tone for respect between the students and myself. Each class will learn to accept and value diversity, and to respect each individual regardless of how their culture, opinions, or values differ from our own. My ultimate objective as a teacher will be to instill a passion of learning in my students. By constantly pursuing further education and sharing new knowledge and ideas with my students, I will introduce my students to the vast world of education. I will seek to further my own education and thereby encourage my students to find their passion and expand their knowledge in that area. Education is a journey not a destination. Therefore, learning is a lifelong process. I believe that the classroom is just a starting point for teaching and learning. I believe students can learn in a variety of environments, and sometimes a change of location can help

teach a subject or lesson more effectively. For instance, a trip to an old coal mine will give students a visual example for a lesson on the social implications of coal mining. A holistic lesson can be incorporated by pointing out how geographical elements contributed to mine collapses, or how economic factors contributed to the increased demand for coal. Another great location for learning is at home. For this reason, I believe that parental involvement is an important factor of education. I will encourage parents to be involved in the lessons their children are learning by offering weekly newsletters and a class website to keep the family aware of what is being taught in the classroom. I will also maintain an open line of communication between students parents and myself in order to contribute positively to the education of my students. Each student is a unique individual with distinctive learning styles and educational needs. I intend to experiment with a variety of learning styles in order to reach every student in the classroom. I will embrace the diverse community of educators in my own school as well as teachers worldwide in order to learn new ways to teach children with different styles of learning. I will embrace technology in my classroom to the extent that it assists in the education of my students. I will be aware that technology can either help or hinder the learning objectives of a class, and I will be diligent to insure that technology is an asset to my classroom rather than a distraction. Throughout my career as an educator I will be aware that my goal is to prepare students for a life of success and fulfillment in whatever field or career they choose to pursue. I will strive to be more than just a teacher I will live to be an inspiration to my students as an individual that demonstrates a passion for learning, respect for others, and genuine love for students.