BEGINNING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT 1

Beginning Philosophy Statement

Introduction to Education
5100:200
Fall 2012

Sarah A. Kosik

Submitted to:
Jennifer L. Allen, M.Ed.
11/28/2012










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Part 1: Introduction
I have always viewed teaching as more than just a profession; a teacher is one who
inspires their students to achieve and be successful in life, to enjoy learning and discover the
world around them, and finally bring out their full potential. Teachers are looked upon as role
models in society and have such a huge impact by making a difference each day in our lives.
Throughout my experiences over the years I have had several great teachers who have shaped me
into a better person and helped me grow as a learner. I appreciated their persistence and
dedication that they put forth to ensure that I had a great education.
I chose to pursue a career in Early Childhood education to make a difference not only in
the world, but also in a childs life. My goal as a future educator is to encourage students to
always be opened minded about their education and the world we live in so that they can gain
knowledge on this life long journey to build a strong foundation to discover who they are. Most
importantly, I would like to make students aware of their own capabilities to be successful in all
aspects of life. This is very important to me because I want to be more than just a teacher who
lectures and stands in front of the classroom, I want to allow my students to take some control of
over their own education.
During my observations I visited three different classrooms at Edge Academy in Akron
tolook for teaching standards, different teaching philosophies, diversities in the classroom and
finally teaching in a democratic society. My goal was to see how these principles were
incorporated within the classroom.I took a lot from this experience because it was more than I
expected. I observed different age groups within my major to see where I would feel most
comfortable. The teachers were very welcoming and gave excellent advice on how to be an
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effective teacher. I was able to see how teachers established a fun interactive community for their
students. As a result of the observations I feel more confident and prepared to pursue a life- long
career in education.
Part II: My Philosophical Positions
Teaching Standards
Professionals within the field of education follow guidelines known as the Ohio
Standards for the Teaching Profession. These seven standards help guide teachers on improving
their effectiveness throughout their careers and set objectives. The Ohio standards vary from
teacher knowledge of content-area concepts and how to present instruction that advances
learning for each individual student to how the teacher collaborates with students, parents, other
educators, administrators, and the community.
The Ohio standards layout the expectations of all educators and are very crucial to
preparing teachers in any school district.Effective teachers make learning more engaging and
meaningful. Teachers who know how to interact with their students and know how to present
material have much more of an impact on their students education than those who dont.
Establishing good relationships with students, parents, administrators, and other teachers will
create a good team to help communities grow and learn together.
During my observations I focused on how teachers applied the seven standards within
their classrooms. I paid attention to the role of both the teacher and students, how the classroom
was structured, how they transitioned into each topic, and how the teacher motivated and
engaged their students.
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Field Observations
I went to Edge Academy for my field visit on September 27, 2012; I did not have much
knowledge about Charter schools because I went to a school in a public suburban area when I
was younger. This experience went far beyond my expectations. The classrooms I visited were
student centered with well- established classrooms. Teachers were welcoming and were very
well organized.
The first teacher I observed was Miss. MacEwan who taught fourth grade math and
science.She displayed an excellent understanding of standard four: Teachers plan and deliver
effective instruction that advances the learning of each student (Ohio Department of Education,
2007).Her teaching style was student-centered, her students desks were groups in five and she
provided lots of encouragement with cheers and rewards. Miss Mac was very knowledgeable of
her content areas and coached her students through their work (Field Notebook, September 27
2012, pg 2). She also has a timed quiz on multiplication every Tuesday and Thursday and the
first five students who complete their quiz first are recognized as the top five (Field Notebook,
September 27 2012, pg 3). Miss MacEwan rewarded her students by allowing them to play a
game at the end of each class. Her students played a game of basket-ball to learn the concepts of
regrouping. By doing this Miss MacEwan created a game that was designed to help students
develop as independent learners and problem solvers.
Miss. MacEwan also posted all her students work on the Wall of Accomplishments so
that students were recognized for their hard work. She also assigned each student to a classroom
task such as distributor, billboard manager, and clean- up control. There were posters of science
and math posted all around the room (Field Notebook, September 27, 2012, pg 2). With that
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being said, Miss MacEwan also had a great understanding of standard 5: Teachers create
learning environments that promote high levels of learning and achievement for all students. This
was displayed very well throughout her classroom because she provided resources and classroom
expectations (Ohio Department of Education, 2007).
My Emerging Philosophy
As a future educator I want to make a difference and make learning fun and interactive. I
feel that having a good understanding of the seven Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession
will prepare me to be a good quality elementary teacher.Working with a community with
students, parents, and other educators requires organization and structure and the Ohio standards
provide that.
Teaching Philosophies
How a classroom is structured can show what teaching philosophy a teacher follows in
their instruction. There are two ways to categorize the five teaching philosophies of education;
student centered and teaching centered. Essentialism and Perennialism are both teacher centered
philosophies; these teachers are known to dispense information while students listen and take
notes. Their classroom is organized, formal, and strict. Instruction is based on power-points and
lecture and students are assessed by exams. The student centered philosophies are Progressivism,
Existentialism, and Social Reconstructionism. The teachers role is to be a guide to their
students learning, to listen and to respond to their needs. The students role however is to learn,
have freewill, to think, participate, and to discover on their own. Instruction is based on group
discussion and engaging students to be active. They are assessed with self- evaluation, papers,
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presentation, and application to real life (Allen, personal communication, October, 2012). During
my field visit I saw student centered philosophies taking place.
Field Observations: As soon as I walked into Mrs. Brenners second grade class it was
evident that her classroom was student centered. Every wall was decorated with posters,
classroom jobs, rules and manners, behavior chart and students work. The desks were organized
in groups facing each other and there was a projector in the middle where Mrs. Brenner stood
while she taught. During their spelling/reading activity, she allowed her students to sit in the
bean bags chairs. Mrs. Brenners second grade class had a classroom pet they each took care of;
this encouraged her students to learn how to be responsible. She responded to each students
question and offered suggestions so they understood what they were supposed to do. Her
students often worked independently on worksheets and reading assigned material. She split her
students into groups according to their reading level. Her students were rewarded with stickers
and snacks when they finished their work and had good behavior (Field Notebook, October 11,
2012, 4). Mrs. Brenners teaching style can be described as Progressivism; I believe this because
she used math manipulative to help her students learn, she offered rewards for their effort, and
her students interacted with the smart board during her lesson. Her students were engaged in
cooperative learning and constructivism (Allen, personal communication, October, 2012).
The second classroom I observed was also student centered; Miss MacEwans taught
fourth grade math and science and established a classroom community for her students. She
selected students for specific classroom tasks such as line leader, paper passer/collector, and
board eraser. The desks were arranged in five groups of five. Posters, behavior charts, and
students work were also posted on the walls. She encouraged her students with cheers and if
there was time they played games. When she called on her students to answer a question during
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her lecture she coached them through the process until they got the right answer. Students
worked independently on worksheets and when they were finished they reviewed them as a
whole class. Miss MacEwan is also an example of a progressivism teacher (Field Notes,
September 27, 2).
My Emerging Philosophy: The two classrooms I have observed during my field visits
have been very inspiring and definitely had an impact on how I will be as a future educator. I see
myself teaching in very similar ways as the teachers I have observed. I feel that my personality
mostly fits within the Progressivism and Existentialism philosophies. I want to structure my
classroom to enable students to discover themselves as learners. I want to encourage cooperative
learning and students to be active. As a teacher, I will be there as a coach to guide my students to
reach their full potential.
I believe that student-centered classrooms are very effective in making education more
engaging. In the text Educational Foundations by Herbert Kohl, Chapter thirteen discusses the
school Summerhill which was a modern school founded in 1921. The school started off as an
experimental school which now has transition into a demonstration school that demonstrates that
freedom works, in other words the school allowed children the freedom to educate themselves.
The founders believed those who wish to be scholars will be scholars.
Diversities of Learners
Diversity plays a major role in our society and as a result we are categorized based on
visible and non -visible characteristics, therefore teachers must be aware of their students
differences in the classroom. There are many characteristics that define who we are as
individuals that can be based on gender, culture, race, religion, learning styles, physical
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handicaps, and etc. Recognizing that each individuals differences are what makes up the
classroom and to accommodate to their needs is crucial to creating a safe and happy learning
environment. By doing so, it enables students to respect and learn from one another.
Field Observations
While observing Miss. Elliots Kindergarten class at Edge Academy I was able to notice
a few diversities among her students. Miss Elliots class was divided into reading groups based
on their performance level, and I was able to work with the five students that stayed in their
homeroom. They were working on spelling and pronouncing words and they were also given an
assessment on this activity and rewarded. The class was also divided the same way for math.
When the rest of her class returned I counted ten girls and eleven boys, so twenty-one students
total. Her students are too young to determine if they have a learning disability to be on
Individualized Education plan or if they are gifted. However, one student was on a behavior plan,
Miss Elliot had to constantly remind this particular student of his behavior and that he was going
to have a color change. It was difficult to get him to cooperate with the other students as well.
After working on rhyming words, they gathered together as a group to review the days of the
week, seasons, and months of the year. Following the review, Miss Elliot read Franklins New
Friend for story time. (Field Notebook, October 25, 2012)
There was not much diversity amongst race or physical appearance in this particular
group of students; as a result they can see that they are all the same and feel comfortable with
their current learning environment and their peers. Most were the same age which was five or six
this can also be seen as an advantage. (Field Notebook, October 25, 2012)
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Miss MacEwans class on the other hand had a wide range of diversity within her
classroom. A few of her students were on Individualized Education Plans and Miss. MacEwan
accommodated to their needs by giving them more time to work on their assignments and there
was also an aide present. Ethnicity was another diversity in this class where African American
students were the majority and Caucasian. I noticed that one student acted like the majority so
that they were accepted by their peers.
Emerging Philosophy
As a future educator it is crucial to be aware of the many ways students can be diverse
and also how to accommodate to their needs and provide a safe and happy learning environment.
After my observations I am now aware of the various diversities within the classroom among
various age groups. Students can be diverse based on learning styles to their physical appearance.
As a teacher I plan to take the time to get to know each student individually so that they will
have an enjoyable learning experience in my classroom. I will also promote kindness and respect
so that students recognize that not everyone is the same and to accept each person as they are. By
doing so, this will prevent discrimination and racism. To ensure that the needs of students with
learning disabilities are being met I will pay close attention to their Individualized Education
Plan. I will work with students based on their learning styles and provide more time if needed to
guide them to academic success in the classroom.
The movie clip shown in class from Freedom Writers was a great depiction among
students in diverse classrooms. A young teacher teaches her students about tolerance and despite
the many differences they have on the outside they are very similar on the inside. The teacher
split the class in half which made a line right down the middle of the room. She then asked them
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questions that made them realize that each of their classmates experienced similar events as they
did, it brought the class together. This particular clip was very inspiring and is a great way to
teach students about diversity and to accept each other as they are.
Schooling in a Democratic Society
Schooling in a democratic society allows the community to voice their opinions and
shape how their school is structured. With that being said, Board meetings are a great
opportunity to stay updated with the schools progress and how to contribute to their school. They
are held every month and are open to the public which means that teachers, students, and parents
are strongly encouraged to attend. The board members vote and make decisions on how to make
improve the school. I gained a lot of knowledge after attending my first board meeting and it was
interesting to see how members of the board voted on each topic.
Field Observations
I attended my first board meeting on November 19, 2012 at Cuyahoga Falls High
schools. The board meeting was in the library and there were several people in present. I was
given a packet that outlined the board meeting and what topics were going to be discussed that
night.Before the actual board meeting, the President of the board presented the Top Tiger
awards; it was nice to see these students get recognition for their hard work and I am sure it was
rewarding to their teachers as well. I thought giving the awards was a good way to show parents
that the schools really care about the education of their students and that they are making
progress.
Following the awards the President of Board took a roll call of the board members and
continued by discussing each issue in the packet. The first issue that was discussed was school
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year calendars for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. One of the board members wanted to make
changes to the calendar because she was concerned about the alignment of the calendar with
other schools. This was interesting and showed me why living in a democratic society can be
beneficial because she has children in different schools in the district. The board members
decided to take further action at the next board meeting.
The next issue that stood out to me was the field trips; the board members discussed
funding for High School boys basketball team trip and Roberts Middle school and Bolich Middle
School eighth graders to take a field trip to Gettysburg and Washington D.C. The big concern
with this issue is how the field trips should be funded. Some board members were for the
students paying for the trip while others were against it. The board members decided to pass the
boys basket-ball trip and not the eighth grade trip to Washington D.C and Gettysburg.
My Emerging Philosophy
After attending my first board meeting and watching the process that members of the
board go through I have become more appreciative that my voice counts in a democratic society.
It is such a good thing that members in a community can vote on levies, issues, and even elect
members of the board. We have the power to shape our school in many ways and voice our
opinions, therefore the future is ultimately in the hands of the community. As a future teacher, I
will educate myself of the current issues in the school and district and because I realize the
importance of board meetings I will make the effort to attend board meetings and vote.
Herbert states in his in book Educational Foundations Some of these people come from
poor or oppressed communities, and their commitment to the children is a commitment to the
community of their parents, brothers, and sisters, and their own children as well (1976, p. 22).
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This quote was got my attention because it is the main reason I want to go into teaching, to be
committed to making the right decisions for my community and to work towards a brighter
future in education. Finally the last quote that really describes how I feel is Teaching for them
becomes a means of searching for ways of connecting with a community they can care for and
serve (1976. p. 22).
Part III: Conclusion
The classrooms I have observed over the course of the semester have provided me with
the knowledge needed to be an effective teacher. I feel confident that I chose the right career in
which I can excel. I now have a better understanding of the Ohio Standards for teaching,
teaching philosophies, diversity within the classroom, and teaching in a democratic society. They
all come together to create a safe learning environment for all students.
I believe that education goes beyond the classroom; as we learn we create a strong
foundation to strengthen our knowledge of the world around us. We are constantly opening our
minds to new things every day through technology, traveling, and reading. With that being said,
my purpose as a future educator is to encourage students to discover the world around them by
providing knowledge and resources for self- discovery. I want to create a learning environment
where my students can feel free to take risks, make decisions, and allow them to work in groups
to interact with one another.



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References
Kohl, H. R. (1976). Why teach? In A.S. Canestrari & B.A. Marlowe (Eds.), Educational
foundations: An anthology of critical readings. (pp. 133-140). Thousand Oaks, CA:
SAGE Publications.
Ohio Department of Education. (September 2007) Ohio standards for the teaching profession. In
Standards for Ohio educators. Retrieved from http://www.ode.state.oh.us
LaGravenese, R. (Director [Paramount Pictures]). (2007). Freedom Writers [Medium]. Location
of studio: Studio.