Educational Philosophy :: Education Teaching Teachers Essays

Educational Philosophy Teaching children has been an important goal for me since I was a little girl. I remember gathering my neighborhood friends into my basement to play school and of course I was Ms. Schaeffer. As I got older my grandfather was a huge influence in my decision to pursue teaching as a career. He was a teacher in every sense of the word. . He taught me the importance of teaching, to reach people. My first actual classroom experience was during my senior year of high school. I shadowed a kindergarten class for two months. The children amazed me with their craving for knowledge, they soaked in every bit of information they could. Children at that time are learning the basic fundamentals they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Knowing that I can have a positive, or possibly a negative impact on this crucial part of life is a scary thought, but I have been waiting my entire life for the challenge. The basis of my own classroom would could only be based on my own experience as a student. Seating would be arranged in small groups, four tables to a group. Two children would face another two children. This would promote working together on projects, sharing, and socializing. In the upper right hand corner of the desk the child’s name would be neatly printed on a laminated card then taped down. On the first day of school the child would find their name and know that was their seat. I would change seating arrangements every couple of months, allowing for more diverse social groups. A classroom needs to be colorful and comfortable. Bulletin boards would be decorated in bright, cheerful colors and be low to the ground, easily accessible for the students. One board would be a calendar displaying holidays, birthdays, special trips, guests visiting, etc. Another would contain students responsibilities and weekly helpers. The weekly helper would be in charge of lines to the cafeteria or the cleanliness of the classroom. Letting the students have a sense of responsibility promotes pride in their classroom and a lesson in leading others instead of being a follower. Another board would be for assignments. Gold stars awarded for every homework turned in the students with all homework turned in on time would be rewarded. To teach the children about weather one board could have small pictures of a sun, clouds, rain, etc.