Personal Educational Philosophy

Megan Farwell
March 14, 2015

The purpose of education is to prepare children for their futures. This means that, as a teacher, it is my
responsibility to support children as they learn and grow in a safe and supportive environment. Education should
develop individuals who have mastery of the content taught, have a strong moral code, are self-disciplined, have
the skill to think critically and independently, and have the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
Education should teach children how to think, rather than what to think. That is why I could not agree more with
Albert Einstein when he said, Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.
When we empower children to think on their own, take responsibility for their actions, and give them the gift of
knowledge, we are empowering them to have successful futures.
Likewise, one must encourage and foster such behaviors in his or her classroom. Real learning takes
place when children are fully engaged and thinking critically. Benjamin Franklin said Tell me and I forget.
Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. Because I believe that children should be taught how to
think, rather than what to think, I consider a constructivist approach to learning most beneficial for supporting
childrens growth and acquisition of knowledge. Learning through inquiry allows the child to take ownership of
the content being studied, and further, take that learning in a direction that interests him or her. When children
are fully engaged and have a sense of responsibility, their learning takes on a whole new meaning. In addition, it
is important that the curriculum applies to the childrens lives. It is the teachers responsibility to help the
children make connections, not only across content areas, but within their lives as well. Lastly, the approach of a
center based learning environment allows for the kinds of hands-on learning experiences that children need.
Centers permit more individualized work and differentiation, and thus result in deeper child engagement and
growth.
Furthermore, classroom management is the most important component to an effective learning
environment. It is my belief that children thrive when there is structure, routine, and a loving and supportive
environment. My views on classroom management align significantly with Ron Morrishs Real Discipline. Real
Discipline focuses on teaching proper behavior and taking a preventative approach. Morrish says we have to
teach students how to behave properly because many of them do not learn how to do so at home Additionally,
because I believe that children thrive when there is structure and routine, I see my views of classroom

management aligning with Fred Jones theory. Managing a classroom efficiently means that there is little wasted
time, and that children are always engaged. If children are meaningfully involved in a lesson, and the teacher
enables them to follow directions on their own, they will be self-disciplined, and as a result, there will be little to
no disruptive behavior.
As far as assessment is concerned, data driven instruction is imperative in todays educational
system. Data from both formative and summative assessments should be collected on a regular basis,
analyzed, and then used to guide instruction. When assessing childrens academic performance, it is
important to utilize many different forms of assessment, while ensuring that all data collected is valid
and reliable. Teachers should teach what they test, and test what they teach. Similarly, children should
be assessed using formats that they are familiar with, ensuring that the childs knowledge, rather than
his or her ability to take the test, is the content being assessed. Moreover, one of the most important
components of assessment is early identification of children who may be in need of extra support.
However, while assessment results are important, a childs educational experience should not depend
solely on his or her ability to perform on a test.
Lastly, relationship building within the classroom, and community, is fundamental for a
successful year. Students, parents, coworkers, administrators, and community members all play an
important role in the education of a child. The best way to establish relationships with all of these
individuals is to be intentional about being present and involved. Each and every student needs to feel
accepted and cared for, and parents should always feel welcomed in the classroom. Without secure
relationships, learning and growth will not take place.
Nelson Mandela said Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.
Likewise, change happens in a classroom by impacting one child at a time. I believe that every child
should have a fair chance at a successful educational career, and thus, future. In education, fair does not
always mean equal, and as a result, I will do my best to give each individual child what he or she needs
to be successful.