Teaching Philosophy

Synthesis Paper

Everyone Teaches and Everyone Learns! Knowledge is an ongoing process our whole lives. These statements will help me become a well-rounded teacher and continue to learn from my students and colleagues. We not only learn in school but in our everyday environment. The beginning statement takes pressure off teachers to not just teach it teaches them to listen as well.

In looking back at the different learning theories I found myself reflecting the most on Constructivism. According to Constructivism Theorist, "The principle goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done - men who are creative, inventive and discoverers" (Piaget). I feel this theory teaches children to reach back into their brains to retrieve information from previous experiences to help connect old information with new. It is my responsibility as a teacher to find each child's learning technique. Thus, they can achieve the knowledge to reach the next level.

Learning in my opinion occurs best in a visual and auditory setting. This falls under the Cognitive Learning Theory. My classroom will have prompts on the walls for reference or the knowledge of where they can go to find out the information they need. The brain organizes, sorts, filters the information based on prior knowledge, and is helped by words and pictures. To utilize Cognitive Learning in my classroom I will be using a journal. The left hand page is for input of information they learn through books, movies, and teacher. The right hand page will be outgoing information to show their understanding of what they learned. The right hand page should have color on it so the children that are artistic can use those skills.

In my opinion learning best occurs in small groups. By having stations the children are in smaller groups. This gives the more timid child a chance to express their opinions. It is easier to manage small groups, thus, cutting down on behavior problems. This gives the more active child a chance to move around after a short period of time. Stations should be intermixed standing, sitting, standing, sitting. Stations allow students to perform at their own level. Stations help with active learning and can be broke down farther by using elbow which means sharing quietly with your neighbor.

A famous Chinese proverb that has helped me gather my thoughts on teaching is,

"Tell me and I forget.

Show me and I remember.

Involve me and I understand" (proverb).

"The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount" (B.F. Skinner). This quote by Skinner helped make me to better understand Behaviorism. To me Behaviorism means a fresh start with each incident and keeping a positive attitude. My students and I will have a safe learning environment; emotionally and physically.