Alyssa Shroyer EDPR 250 Philosophy Statement (Final Draft) I knew I wanted to teach when I first met a two

year old boy named Javier. When I first greeted the class, I noticed Javier sitting and playing by himself. Even though Javier did not immediately respond, I sat down to interact with him. One of the teachers explained that Javier had always heard Spanish in his home but English at day care, and consequently, he did not speak at all. The entire teaching staff, speech therapists, and volunteers were working with Javier, and no one was giving up on his success. The day Javier first spoke, I was overwhelmed with happiness for him. I knew I had played a small part in his development and ability to communicate verbally. I chose Early Childhood Education because I have always been amazed at the learning capacity and drive of young children. Early childhood is a critical time period of learning where children have a great desire to know more. I want to be prepared to teach children to read, write, and provide a foundation in other academic subjects. Thinking critically is something I believe young children are capable of, so I want to encourage critical discussions as often as possible. My hope is that I will be a teacher of a diverse group of young students. The main reward that I am looking forward to as a teacher is creating successes for students. Constantly seeing growth in students will be a highly rewarding aspect of teaching. Students tend to learn the social skills of acceptance and respect and much of that can be accredited to a teacher who sets such boundaries for the classroom. The earlier students learn to be respectful of one another, the better they will be able to grasp cultural competence. I plan to teach by allowing children to interact with one another and learn cooperatively. I want to provide each student with the tools necessary for success. I want to use creative methods that will be interesting and cater to a diverse classroom. I prefer starting discussions that will lead to active participation of students. I think group work is essential for students to learn to work cooperatively with those are different from themselves. I enjoy teaching through song, art, social skills, and creative play. I think these activities all cultivate learning at a young age. I want my classroom to be full of color and warmth. I want to have a great deal of the students work on the walls, for example art projects or handwriting. I will also have labels on most things in the room to promote literacy. I desire for my room to be an accepting, safe, and loving place to enter. I want to incorporate life skill activities in my classroom. I think academic posters, an appropriate sized chalkboard, whiteboard, or smart board would be highly beneficial in presenting material. I also would love to have a computer and a library would for added intellectual growth. Assessments are necessary to understanding each students progress and personal effectiveness as a teacher. I plan to become knowledgeable on IEPs and RTIs in order to best serve my students with special learning needs. I need to learn more about typical development, curriculum requirements, and current use of assessments before I say for certain how I will assess my students personally. A good teacher possesses many necessary qualities, such as a nurturing spirit and an approachable demeanor. Teachers should possess thorough knowledge of subject matter and materials that will be presented in the classroom. Teachers should place value on praising culture and diversity in an appropriate way. Having these qualities work collectively can also lead to strong relationships with students, other teachers, administrators, and caregivers alike.