My Philosophy   


Teachers are able to exert such an influence on student achievement in a variety of ways through taking on different roles in education.  I intend to play a role in equipping my students with the necessary skills to be successful in the future.  The skills that are accentuated through my teaching will be both intellectual and social.  I feel that the purpose of education is to create well-rounded individuals who are responsible for their actions and are able to become self-motivated and self sufficient in both recognizing and achieving their goals.    
    The learning process is very much a social experience and I feel that in education it is essential to establish a distinct connection between these two elements.  Through learning activities in which students are interacting with one another they are able to develop and improve social skills and also gain knowledge and insight from one another.  Students placed in this type of learning environment exemplify the principles of progressivism.  John Dewey, the first advocate of this teaching philosophy, believed that people are able to learn best through social interaction.  I also believe this, as I feel students can act as one another’s best resource in some instances within the classroom.  Through interacting with peers students are able to feed off of one another’s ideas and understanding in an attempt to construct a solid knowledge base.
If social interaction is to remain a constant theme in the classroom then the content/lesson must be presented in a manner that allows students to discuss and/or apply what is being taught.  I feel that the most effective way for students to learn is through doing. This is why it is important to include as many hands-on activities as possible in relation to all subject matter.  I feel that the more activities and/or discussions in which students interact and are given the option to share and apply their knowledge, the more likely they are to retain what they have learned and reapply it in the future.  The ability to utilize knowledge that is learned is a characteristic that, if maintained, will be extremely beneficial in future endeavors in both education and real life situations.   
    Helping to mold students into self-sufficient individuals who will eventually become able to recognize their goals and apply prior knowledge is a main goal of my educational philosophy.  As a teacher I intend to positively guide my students to develop the ability to take interest in and apply the knowledge I present to them.  I will do this through providing positive reinforcement as well as allowing my students to gain independence through participating in practical, hands-on activities.  I feel that my main role as a teacher will be to not only to present information to my students in a creative and efficient manner, but also to act as a motivating force and encourage them to come to their own conclusions and develop their own ideas.  I will also focus on allowing students to interact and learn from one another, as I feel that the development of social skills is also a major determinant in future success.  
    Overall, I feel that students, at all levels, are best able to learn when they are able to apply the material that is presented to them.  Through participating in hands-on activities they are better able to relate to and take a stronger interest in what they are learning.  The importance of social interaction also enhances student-learning experience, as they are able to influence one another and gain insight and new viewpoints from their peers.  Also through interacting in hands-on activities student