Philosophy Statement Quira Perez
Assignment 2B EDUG 401
4/01/2010
As a prospective teacher, I tend to catch myself observing my teachers and professors to gain insight on how to, or even how not to run a classroom. The most important lesson I’ve taken away from all of my classes is that a teacher does not simply teach a subject but leaves some kind of memorable imprint on the minds of each student. I can remember every single teacher I’ve ever had—all the way back to preschool. Even my least favorite teachers are implanted in my memory one way or another. Much of who I am today has been shaped in some way by my educators and I feel this is evidence that it is important to go into the field because you have a passion to teach. Professor Stiler spoke of how if a child has a bad experience with school in the beginning, it can affect the rest of his schooling years. Because of facts like this, it is important that teachers take the nature of man, the nature of learning, the nature of society, and the nature of knowledge into consideration with every decision that is made for running an effective classroom.
When I held my interview with a male student from Yucaipa High School during his senior year, I was appalled with the bitterness towards the education system. All of his replies were hostile, to the point, and sometimes sarcastic. He did mention that part of his frustration stems from the way he is treated in the classroom. He complained, “In high school we are treated like helpless children but are expected to be adults and responsible for ourselves in college.” While the transition from high school to college is expected to be different, he makes a valid point. It is human nature to work best when you are participating out of desire rather than participating because you are told to do so. If respect is shown in both directions, the results are outstanding. I think it is important to create a classroom where the students all feel respected and look to me as their educator—but not necessarily their superior. If the students feel just as important a part of the classroom as myself, the learning process will be much smoother and at ease. The students will want to learn and be active participants.
Although there is a level of respect created on both sides, there are some students who aren’t going to cooperate. It is important for teachers to recognize these students so that they do not disrupt the learning of others. The nature of learning must be taken into consideration in all aspects of the classroom. The greatest distraction from learning is misbehavior. An effective discipline plan is essential for any classroom. After speaking with Monty Martin, a high school English teacher, I think that patience is the key. Often times, students yearn for a reaction to their behavior and a patient response may deter future offenses. I hope to set my rules and have them understood on the first day of school.
My main concern is that the students are respectful to one another because a safe learning environment will harbor the best results. As a teacher, I need to create a room that is void of prejudice, racism, bullying, and discomfort. If a student is relaxed and feels comfortable in their environment, there is less to distract from my lesson plans. My classroom needs to feel like home because it is nature to learn best in an environment you are comfortable in.
If a student is disobeying a rule that I have set, I will present a warning. Should the behavior continue, I will take the student aside and have a talk with him or her. Because I want to teach in an elementary setting, the most important part of the talk is to stoop down to the student’s level. My R.O.P. class from high school stressed that I need to be at the same height as my student because it makes the talk more personal and respectful. At that time, I can speak to the student about the behavior. Unless the behavior is harmful to other students, I would prefer to keep the student in class rather than in the administration office because they still need to learn the lessons.
If a particular behavior is reoccurring, it could be a possibility that my student has a learning disability and is acting out because of it. There are numerous learning disabilities like autism, ADHD, ADD, and more to look out for. The student may need extra help that I am not qualified to provide. In addition to the medical learning disabilities, there is also the possibility that I may have an English Language Learner in my class who doesn’t fully understand every word that I say. In order to keep these students from getting discouraged or lost, it is recommended that many hand motions be used. Visual representations also go hand in hand with the gestures. In reality, there are some students who just may not be interested in what it is I have to teach. By incorporating visuals and objects that allow kinesthetic learning, I can engage more students and keep them eager to learn.
Making students eager to learn may be tricky in a classroom depending on the child’s home life. Teachers need to take into consideration the nature of the surrounding society. A lot of homes may not value education as much as work based on their lifestyle and economic needs. It’s important to teach my students that education is very valuable and has come a long way. In previous years, it has been restricted to only men but is now accessible by everyone. I want to encourage the minimum of a high school diploma and hopefully a college degree someday.
Community involvement in the classroom was also a hot topic in the Educational Foundations Class. Some parents don’t attend school functions which can make teacher’s feel as though they do not care about their children’s education. As mentioned earlier, it is important for the teacher to take into consideration the possible reasons for the absence. It is possible that the parents do not speak English, or that they feel uncomfortable to attend class functions. I hope to create a classroom that is warm and inviting for not only students, but for their parents as well. I want to have parents actively involved in all aspects of my classroom and I will make a lot of personal phone calls to ensure it.
Lastly, I want to be sure to teach lessons that cover more than just the curriculum. It may be reality for many students to drop out of high school and I want to be sure that they are prepared for what life has to offer. It’s important that as a teacher, I care about each one of my students as though they were my own. I want to be sure that my students know how to be model citizens and avoid dangerous situations.
Being a teacher means being a role model. It is nature of knowledge that when something valuable is learned, it is passed on. When my students learn something in my class, I hope that they will share with their family members at home and their friends on the playground. By making each class interesting and worth listening to, I will be spreading education throughout the community.
