Hope Feldman

4-21-2016
Educational Philosophy
Educational equality is at the heart of my teaching philosophy. Every
child is capable of learning and deserving of a quality education. School
should be a place of growth; somewhere that students can discover their
unique talents, expand their minds, learn to work cooperatively and enhance
personal capabilities in order to become active members of society. In order
to instill a love of learning in all children, it is important for teachers to
understand the diverse needs and talents children bring to the classroom. To
help all children reach their full potential, I believe teachers need to
implement a variety of strategies that place students at the center of the
learning process, promote inclusion, allow for differentiation and recognize
individual successes.
Cultivating a positive learning community and safe environment is one
of the most critical aspects of developing an effective classroom. In order to
meet the academic, social and emotional needs of every child in the class, it
is important to establish rules and routines that instill mutual respect and
allow for differentiation. Students need to develop trust with one another as
well as with their teacher in order to feel comfortable and willing to take on
challenges. In order to build rapport with students and form a class bond, I
dedicate time (particularly during the first six weeks of school) getting to
know my students interests, developing relationships and explicitly

modeling expectations with the intention of setting up a supporting learning

climate.
Learning should be a pleasurable experience for children. I strive to
make my classroom and lessons as welcoming and engaging as possible
because I understand how important it is for students to develop a positive
perspective on learning. My creative approach to teaching, bubbly energy
and genuine enthusiasm motivates children to want to learn. I connect with
children by being compassionate and relatable. Getting to know my students
on an individual basis allows me to provide the necessary support they need
to be successful in my classroom.
I believe children should be at center of the learning process and need
opportunity to take authority in the classroom. I see myself as a facilitator of
learning and provide a progressive education for students by structuring
lessons authentically. Children learn best when given meaningful, hands on
opportunities for learning in which exploration, collaboration, and movement
are included. Active learning engages children beyond textbooks, worksheets
and memorizing facts. Cooperative grouping strategies also enhance social
skills and permit students to guide each other in the learning process. My
twenty-first century classroom will buzz with projects, technology, and
interactions that inspire students to take ownership of their education and
develop personal interests.
Students are empowered to learn when they feel successful. I am a
cheerleader for every individual I teach and use positive reinforcement and
praise to help each child feel important. My role as a teacher is to provide
the appropriate support, structure and accommodations to help my students

feel enabled to achieve the learning goals and participate in the classroom.
Meeting students where they are and building from their strengths through
scaffolding promotes achievement. Small group work and differentiation
support my philosophy that children should receive individualized instruction
and attention from their teacher.
The unique talents possessed by children need to be nurtured through
a variety of teaching pedagogies that maximize achievement. I base my
teaching off the theory of multiple intelligences and employ strategies that
allow students to learn in a variety of ways. By providing diverse experiences
for students to acquire knowledge and multiple ways for children to
demonstrate their thinking, I am able to reach a wide range of learners. I also
think children need to be exposed to numerous types of cognition so that
they can apply what they learn in many different contexts. I want my
students to be thoughtful problem solvers and critical thinkers. In order to
promote skills that enable life long learning, I utilize Blooms Taxonomy when
planning lessons in order to incorporate activities that develop various ways
of thinking.
In my opinion, educational equality means finding a way to ensure all
students can be successful at school. Providing high quality instruction that
supports social, emotional and cognitive development that meets the needs
of diverse learners will make our world a better place. Instilling a love of
learning and helping children discover their unique talents will prepare them
to positively contribute to society.