Adele Lanza

EDCI 5060
Philosophy of Education Statement

I believe that each child is a unique individual who deserves a secure,

caring, and stimulating environment in which to grow and learn. So as
a pre-service special education teacher, it will be my responsibility to
provide a classroom environment that is safe, supports risk-taking, and
invites a sharing of ideas.

In determining what environment best reflects the above

characteristics, I will first make sure I understand the nature of my
students’ disabilities so I can successfully place them in the most
appropriate learning environment. I would follow the 2004 Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that states “children with
disabilities [are to] be educated in the least restrictive environment
appropriate to meet their unique needs.” In doing so, IDEA also
declares that the "least restrictive environment should begin with
students being placed in the regular education classroom.”

After placing my student in the most appropriate learning environment,

it will then be my task to achieve three primary classroom goals. They
will consist of a) making sure all of my students are academically
proficient, b) making sure all of my students are socially adjusted and
c) encouraging my students to be intrinsically motivated to learn.

When tackling the job of achieving academic proficiency for all

students, I believe it is key to do so through scaffolding. Scaffolding is
the building of a support system for students so they may take the
knowledge they acquire at one level and apply it to the next scaffold
level. I will set high but realistic goals for students to achieve is a
necessary one because it allows children to build off the knowledge
they have already learned and apply that knowledge to more complex,
abstract ideas.

To help children socially adjust in my classroom, I will get to know my

students on an individual basis. In doing so, I will not only learn about
their interests and their likes and dislikes but I will then be better
equipped to provide any necessary, individualized positive behavior
supports (PBS’s) in their individualized education plan’s (IEP’s).

Lastly, I will try to encourage my students to be intrinsically motivated

to learn. I would do this by enthusiastically facilitating discussions on
topics that can be related to my students’ everyday lives, I will
encourage them to play an active role in the planning or delivery of
lesson topics and I will provide opportunities for my students to provide
me feedback as to how the lesson went, what they liked and disliked
about it and how we might change it to better help future students. If I
involve my students in their education, I believe they will be much
more intrinsically motivated to learn.