Running head: PHILOSOPHY 1

Philosophy of Teaching

Josie Jaggers

Azusa Pacific University

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Abstract

There are many different teaching philosophies that are out in the world of education and

explanations of how they came to be. The truth is that every single person has their own

educational and teaching philosophy and it is so important for them to explore that to be able to

implement it and create the most successful atmosphere and learning experiences for their

students. My view on education, the role of a teacher, my view of students, and the

implementation of parent/teacher collaborations have shaped what I believe about education and

what I believe is important in education. My Christian worldview, courses I have had the

opportunity to take, and my service learning projects have all played such a large role in creating

my teaching philosophy, which focuses on the individual and the uniqueness that they can bring

to the world.

Keywords: education, philosophy, worldview

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Philosophy of Teaching

I have had the opportunity to observe, volunteer, and even teach lessons in many different

classrooms in many different districts. Throughout my many experiences in the classroom, I can

say that every single classroom is so different than the others. Each classroom has a different

teacher, students, and type of classroom. Every teacher has their own individual teaching

philosophy that allows for them to enhance the learning atmosphere in their classroom. The way

an individual views education, the role of a teacher, the view of students, and the collaboration of

family is all part of their teaching philosophy. My teaching philosophy has also been greatly

impacted by my Christian worldview and course and service learning experiences.

Education

There are many aims of education that are used in today’s world. Many people ask

themselves what education means to them. For most of us, we base our opinion of what an

education is and what it should be based off our our own experiences of being in school.

Aristotle questioned the aims of education in this way: “The existing practice [of education] is

perplexing; no one knows on what principle we should proceed-should the useful in life, or

should virtue, or should the higher knowledge, be the aim of our training; all three opinions have

been entertained” (Parkay, 1998, p. 118). It is clear that there has not been a definitive answer to

Aristotle’s questions. Rather, each generation has come up with their own answers and reasoning

to this. In order for education to be successful in students lives, there must be a collaborative

approach that includes the role of the teacher, view of the students, and the inclusion of families.

This collaborative approach allows for students to get the best possible education.
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Role of the Teacher

The role of a teacher can look different from individual to individual as different

experiences have shaped the beliefs about teachers and what their role is. The role of a teacher

encompasses many different aspects. A teacher must be knowledgeable in what they are teaching

to their students. They must be able to understand the material to then be able to teach and pass

on the information to their students. Teachers must also cultivate learning in the classroom.

Empowering students to want to learn and truly understand what is being taught is such a

valuable role of a teacher. Within cultivating learning in the classroom, teachers must have good

classroom management to be able to accomplish learning and understanding. Classroom

management is the foundation of a successful teacher and includes planning, creativity, engaging

activities and lessons, and classroom behavior. A teacher must be consistent with their classroom

management techniques in order for it to be successful in the classroom.

Although the previous comments on what the role of a teacher should be are common,

there are many other roles that a teacher takes on that are lesson common. A successful teacher

must also teach and demonstrate good character traits. Honesty, integrity, and responsibility are

three examples of ethical traits that need to be implemented into the classroom by the teacher. A

teacher must also play the role of a caregiver in some situations. They must be willing to create

meaningful relationships with their students so their students feel valued and safe while at

school. There is not one main role that a teacher fulfills, but instead it is a collaborative effort to

provide the best possible education for their students.

View of Students

The way students are viewed is one of the most important factors that has an effect on the
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quality of their education. Students should all be held to high expectations and be given the

information and resources needed to reach those expectations and be successful. Without high

expectations, students will not be able to learn to their fullest potential and get to truly grasp the

entire understanding of the concept. High expectations with resources available to students

allows for them to be able to grow and succeed in ways they may have never thought were

possible.

The way a teacher views a student can make a significant impact on whether or not a

student will be successful. ​Students need their teachers to be able to teach them the skills and

make the resources available for them to be successful. This could be seen in the way that a

teacher view equity and equality. It is important for a teacher to recognize the importance of

equity so that students have the ability to do their best. Teachers must provide an equitable space

for all of their students for them to be able to succeed and to provide a safe space for them in the

classroom.

Inclusion of Families

The inclusion of families in education is one of the most vital components that allows for

a student to be successful. Including parents and families in their child’s education allows for

them to see the value of education that they may have not seen before. Parents are able to see a

teachers role on a deeper level if they are involved in the classroom. The inclusion of parents and

families can be implemented in many different ways. Teachers can allow for parents to come in

and work in the classroom, plan family nights, and provide parents with the different resources

that their students are learning with and how to use them.
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There is a large sense of community when you invite parents and families to be a part of

their child’s education. If parents feel as though you are investing in them and their child, they

will want to invest in their child's education as well. These inclusive ideas can work to close the

gap between schools and families and work to create a more collaborative environment that is

better for the child’s education.

Effective Teaching and Student Learning

The only way effective learning can take place is if there is effective teaching that is

taking place in the classroom. The responsibility is on the teacher to be able to do their best to

provide students with the resources and learning strategies they need to be able to be successful

at whatever it is they may be learning. A teacher must go into every new year with an open mind

on their teaching strategies and how they want to implement them into their classroom. Every

student learns differently and need different teaching styles to be able to understand the material

that they are learning.

Educational Philosophies

There are many different educational philosophies that teachers adopt that then shape

their own teaching philosophies and how they view teaching and education. As one looks at

different philosophies, it is important to realize how they truly shape the entire way a teacher

teaches and manages their entire classroom. There are two educational philosophies that I believe

are very relevant to my own personal philosophy and provide insight to how I view education

and teaching. These two educational philosophies are progressivism and reconstructionism.

The educational philosophy of progressivism is very important and can be defined in

saying that “education begins with the child rather than with the subject matter discipline”
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Parkay, 1998, p. 235). There are many other parts that contribute to the entirety of the

progressivism philosophy in education, but I believe that one of the most important parts is the

fact that the most important part of everything is the child themselves. It is easy to get caught up

with only focusing on subject matter, and while that is extremely important, it is also important

to focus on the individual student what their needs are first. I will be sure to implement that

specific part of progressivism into my classroom.

The next educational philosophy that I have found to align partly with mine is the

reconstructionism. Reconstructionism is about having schools “take the lead on reconstructing

the current social order” (Parkay, 1998, p. 243). This may seem like a lot and in some ways I

think it is, but it also allows for many students to be able to take action and steps in the world

that they will be living in one day. I believe that is the most important part about this specific

philosophy and I believe it is something that should be implemented into the classroom.

Christian Worldview

Looking at education through the lens of a Christian worldview is so important and can

lead to many great realizations. A Christian worldview allows for me to see every single child as

a Child of God and see them uniquely made in His image. The role of the teacher, how one

views, students, and the implementation of family involvement becomes enhanced when a

Christian worldview is the most important thing. With a Christian worldview, everyday decisions

are made by looking to God and seeking his help and perspective with every decision. As people

look to God for his guidance, one must remember who it is about. It is not about personal

perspectives or ideas, one must look to God for his perspective and mind. My Christian

worldview and God is what has allowed me to create my educational and teaching philosophy.
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Courses and Service Learning Experience

Although it is very important to be able to learn about education and teaching concepts in

a classroom, it is more important to know what that actually looks like in a real classroom with

students. Service learning has allowed for me to see what a classroom environment looks like. I

have gotten the incredible opportunity to observe, plan, mentor, and teach in many K through

12th grade classrooms throughout my undergraduate experience at Azusa Pacific University. As

a Special Education concentration, I have had the opportunity to work with students with mild to

moderate and moderate to severe disabilities in the classroom. I have been able to teach lessons

in math, science, reading, and many other subjects to students. Service Learning reminds me of

the value of education and teaching. It reminds me that this is what I want to pursue and

accomplish.

My service learning experiences have allowed me to create and understand my own

education and teaching philosophy. It has shaped the way I view students and their abilities. I

have been reminded that every student has so much worth and value to offer. As my service

learning experience for Introduction to Teaching was nearing the end, I had one of my 4th grade

students come to me and tell me that I am the reason she started to like math more and more. I

found this ironic because I do not particularly like math, but I realized that that is not important. I

realized that, although small, I had made an impact on her life for the better. This is what makes

it all worth it. I cannot explain how much service learning has impacted my teaching philosophy

and reminded me that I am doing exactly what I should be doing.

Conclusion

All of these factors have shaped my teaching philosophy and I am excited to be able to
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implement these different principles into the classroom one day. My Christian worldview,

courses, and service learning experiences have allowed me to formulate my teaching philosophy

and remind myself of the importance of the individual.

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Works Cited

Parkay, F.W. (1998). Becoming a teacher. Boston: Pearson