Ashley Wright Dr.

Bumgarner 22 December 2013 Teaching Philosophy I strongly believe that the students should be the center of the classroom. My personal philosophy of teaching is a mix between progressivism and existentialism. One of the most important qualities these philosophies have in common is that they are student-centered. Since my ultimate goal is to be a preschool teacher, my beliefs align closely with the philosophy of Existentialism as a whole. If the teacher is constantly the center of attention, the students are not immersed in the lessons. They will bore quickly and become uninterested in learning. From my own personal experience, if a class wasnt engaging enough, it was hard for me to focus. I want my students to look back on their time in my classroom in a positive way. I want to have as much of an impact on each of my students as my favorite teachers had on me. In order to reach these goals, I believe the focus of the classroom needs to be on the students instead of on the teacher. I believe lecturing is not the most effective way to teach (especially for younger students). Each classroom activity should keep students immersed in their learning. I believe the teacher should act as a guide and a facilitator instead of a lecturer. I believe that classrooms are more successful when the teacher is not the holder of the knowledge. As a teacher, it is important to let students share their own ideas and opinions. In my classroom, I will encourage my students to come up with answers on their own instead of handing them the answer as soon as they are stumped. Its important to let students discover solutions to problems on their own in order to become confident problem solvers in the future. In many ways, the process is more important than the product. It is very important to teach students how to find answers and come to their own conclusions. Simply handing them the answer will not teach them these skills.

Another important part of a classroom is cooperative learning. I believe it is important for students to be able to share their answers and discoveries with one another. This is helpful in a number of ways. It is especially helpful in a subject such as mathematics, to see that there are different ways to come to a conclusion. Cooperative learning provides students the opportunity to consider different perspectives. Overall, I think a classroom should involve a welcoming, student centered environment. The teacher should not be the single holder of the knowledge and should be a facilitator. Class activities should involve, engage, and interest students. Group work and class discussions should be encouraged in order for students to be more confident in themselves. I believe that shaping a classroom in these ways is necessary for an effective learning environment.