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Running header: Philosophy Statement

Philosophy Statement
Kimberly Ball
EDUC 290
Dr. Lucinda Edgbert
9 September 2019
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Philosophy Statement

When I was a little girl, I had this third grade teacher Mrs. Larsen, who inspired me in

wanting to be a teacher just like her. You could tell she loved to teach and she cared deeply for

all her students and our academic success. She let us use our imaginations and taught us not only

academically but socially as well. I believe she was a very effective teacher because she

addressed not only her role as our teacher but our role’s as students in her classroom, because she

was giving us valuable learning skills. I still think about her and my experiences in her

classroom. I will never forget her and the many things she taught me in that third grade

classroom.

I believe teachers have one of the most important and valuable jobs. We are blessed with

the opportunity to shape little minds and mold them into responsible adults. As a teacher it is my

responsibility to help my students reach their greatest potential while guiding their learning and

building their self-esteem. I’m excited I get to work with those little minds that are still learning

and exploring their world around them, because I get to provide them with learning experiences

that will help make real world connections so they can be valuable members in society one day.

As a teacher, I believe that all students have an important role in the classroom. Just from

the years that I have been in kindergarten I have seen the various backgrounds, family

environments, and the many different learning styles. I have definitely learned over the years that

not every child learns the same and they all have their own individual pace. However, in order to

be successful, students must possess a desire to learn and I feel that students learn best when the

teacher builds upon their knowledge and creates new learning experiences to help their students
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to make new connections and take new risks in their learning. It is important to provide an

exciting and motivating learning environment so they are enthusiastic about learning.

In this day and age we live in a world where we need to bring technology into the

classroom. I think it is an essential tool with invaluable resources that will help to reinforce and

enhance concepts that are being taught in the classroom. We use a program called Waterford in

our kindergarten classroom, this program helps the students with their reading skills as they play

games and sing songs. Last year our school implemented focus groups for students in

kindergarten through second grade. Four days a week for a half an hour students split into their

appropriate learning group to get extra reinforcement in skills they may be lacking in, to better

further their education along. I feel that this has been very beneficial to those who are struggling

in certain skills, such as sight words or letter sounds.

As a teacher I also feel that it is important to keep parents involved in their child’s

learning, create a warm learning environment, and continue to work on my own professional

development. It is crucial that a teacher be partners with the students’ parents and keep them

involved in their child’s education. I want parents to feel welcome and comfortable in the

classroom because I want them to be involved in the process of their child’s learning too. Last

but not least a teacher must believe in their students. I believe that all teachers can make a

difference in the life of their students each and every day. Mrs. Larsen definitely taught me that,

she was a teacher who made a difference in my life. I know that all children can be successful in

the classroom, and I will do all that I can to help my students be their very best, just like Mrs.

Larsen taught me to be my very best.

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