Hi Everyone,
I had to complete this earlier then expected. If anyone needs any help with theirs please let me know. I am not the best writer in the world, but I am pretty good at catching typos. (Except my own!) See you Friday!
My philosophy of education is still in its developmental stages. It stems from my own struggles with education in the past. In simplest terms, I feel that you cannot force a child to learn; yet you must be fully able to teach them when they are ready. I think we must see potential in every student and realize that even though they might not fit the description of the ideal pupil, that it could be our ideals, not the student, that is flawed. With time and maturation even the worst student can become a successful member of society.
In high school I had a disgraceful GPA of 1.602 and saw no reason to strive for more then this. I felt I was an intelligent person and did not need a degree to do well in life. I questioned the real life applications for what was being taught and thought that I would be a success based solely on my personality. Much like the teenager who thinks that they are immortal I did not fear my lack of academic achievement.
My appreciation for formal education did not blossom until I found myself in the workplace. It was there that I was able to recognize its value. Desire for promotion, monthly bills, and even the price of gas motivated me more then any teacher ever had. I found myself taking night classes and doing well. Formal education was no longer an abstract process and with real world motivation, I found myself succeeding at a level far greater than my previous grades would have predicted. It was in these moments of clarity that I knew that I should be a teacher, to try to pass on this motivation to students at an earlier age. I wanted to teach in a way that was not judgmental, nor motivate with happy faces and stickers but with experience. I can relate to them because I was them, with the hindsight to understand their fears, the patience to work through their doubts and ability to supply real life reasons to why they should apply themselves.
Elementary teachers must be chameleons. They must always adapt to the subject matter being taught and changing needs of the students. Teachers must bring real life into the classroom so the children can value what they are being taught. They have a responsibility to truly know the curriculum and not merely rely on the teacher’s editions. Teachers must also always be students, and learn to adapt so that the teaching methods never become stale nor lose touch with the students. They must respond to the pace of technology, and be open to the opportunities and responsibilities new technologies will bring to the classroom.
I am no longer the student who questions why I am learning or how it benefits me. Today my GPA is a 3.77 and I have a newly found respect for academic success and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.
In high school I had a disgraceful GPA of 1.602 and saw no reason to strive for more then this. I felt I was an intelligent person and did not need a degree to do well in life. I questioned the real life applications for what was being taught and thought that I would be a success based solely on my personality. Much like the teenager who thinks that they are immortal I did not fear my lack of academic achievement.
My appreciation for formal education did not blossom until I found myself in the workplace. It was there that I was able to recognize its value. Desire for promotion, monthly bills, and even the price of gas motivated me more then any teacher ever had. I found myself taking night classes and doing well. Formal education was no longer an abstract process and with real world motivation, I found myself succeeding at a level far greater than my previous grades would have predicted. It was in these moments of clarity that I knew that I should be a teacher, to try to pass on this motivation to students at an earlier age. I wanted to teach in a way that was not judgmental, nor motivate with happy faces and stickers but with experience. I can relate to them because I was them, with the hindsight to understand their fears, the patience to work through their doubts and ability to supply real life reasons to why they should apply themselves.
Elementary teachers must be chameleons. They must always adapt to the subject matter being taught and changing needs of the students. Teachers must bring real life into the classroom so the children can value what they are being taught. They have a responsibility to truly know the curriculum and not merely rely on the teacher’s editions. Teachers must also always be students, and learn to adapt so that the teaching methods never become stale nor lose touch with the students. They must respond to the pace of technology, and be open to the opportunities and responsibilities new technologies will bring to the classroom.
I am no longer the student who questions why I am learning or how it benefits me. Today my GPA is a 3.77 and I have a newly found respect for academic success and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.
4 comments:
Thanks for sharing this with us, Jennifer.
YOue essay was pretty good in my opinion. I believe your experiences probably changed your mentality towards education. I guess experience in and out the classroom work hand in hand to teach us something. oh nice gpa by the way.
BRAVO! I loved it! It was clear and to the point. Thanks for sharing!
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