Educational Philosophy
What is education? To me, education is about providing the students with an opportunity to grow and become the best version of themselves. It allows learners to discover who they are and what’s important to them. It’s not about what we know as “teachers” and what knowledge we bestow upon students. It’s about creating a sanctuary of hope that we can provide to those who will shape the future. Our duties as educators extend merely “teaching” – rather, it includes our ability to conduct ourselves as role models, our ability to fulfill our students social and emotional needs, and also shape them ot be empathetic and productive participants of society.
While education has become an institutionalized entity, learning is still internal, and more importantly, personal. A teacher’s duty is to instill the values of curiosity, empathy and confidence so that the learner can take the matter of education into his or her own hands. It’s about growth and giving every student, regardless of their situation, an equal platform for them to pursue whatever they choose.
My objectives as a teacher is to help student realize their full potential. I’m lucky that as an elementary school teacher in Canada, I’m afforded this luxury on a scale immeasurable to anything else. I strive to help student become life long learners by providing opportunities for students to achieve growth and continue on that path. In a sense, a strength of mine is the ability to discern what is right for my students. I always strive for my lessons to reflect the learning needs of my students, and not the wishes or desires of anyone else. While I acknowledge the importance of being able to learn from others’ suggestions and grow from constructive criticism, I am also a firm believer that no one knows your class and your students better than yourself. And it is no one’s responsibility but your own to fulfill the needs of your student. When I step into the classroom, I am there to fulfill a promise to my students, their parents, my colleagues and myself to ensure that the children are receiving the best opportunities to express themselves through the education they receive from me.
I believe that inquiry is the best practice that will help me achieve all of my goals. Inquiry will allow me to give the platform for utilizing skills that will help students become life long learners, while also allowing the students to explore their own interests. Another method I am passionate about is differentiated methods. Every child is different and flourish best under different circumstances. I believe that my duty as a teacher is to ensure that every student has the appropriate medium to express their knowledge. Giving the students the tools to ask questions, to theorize and to have a general wonderment about the world is the best approach. Modeling good behaviour and a willingness to learn is something that can be demonstrated through my attitude and approach to all learning opportunities.