One of my fifth grade teacher's favorite sayings was, “Democracy ends at the door.” Although he said it good-naturedly, I think that it was an accurate statement regarding the general philosophy of teaching that was prevalent at the time. I am thankful that most modern teachers no longer feel that the classroom needs to be run like a dictatorship. I think that children learn best when they are allowed to have as much say as possible in the learning process. Although a completely student-centered classroom appeals to me in theory, I do not think that it sounds completely practical, especially for elementary school children. I feel that the best approach is to use elements from both teacher-centered and student-centered philosophies. The two approaches that I agree with the most consistently are essentialism and progressivism.
Goals:
Elementary education provides the foundation that will support students' future learning. What they learn during these years will greatly impact their success in future years of schooling and in their lives and careers after they are done with school. I think that there is something to be said for the essentialist goal of transmitting certain elements of culture. There are some things that I feel are important to just know. I will not force my students to memorize long lists of facts or dates unless this is something that especially interests them, but I will encourage a general familiarity with things like history, science, and literature. I think that it is possible to recognize and celebrate diversity without eliminating all of the traditional subjects. To achieve this, I will include different cultural perspectives when teaching these subjects in order to avoid encouraging ethnocentric attitudes in my students. I also feel that the progressive focus on becoming intellectual problem solvers and socially aware citizens is important. Rather than just thrusting information upon students, I will teach them how to learn and will encourage them to continue learning for enjoyment long after they have left the classroom behind.
Methods:
I don't picture myself ever standing in front of a classroom and delivering a lengthy lecture. I would rather try the progressive approach of creating different interest centers around a certain theme and giving students the freedom to pursue what interests them the most. If I am working in a school that has adopted the common core standards, I will encourage my students to meet those goals, however I don't think that forcing children to memorize facts is beneficial. That only tests their short term memory, not their ability to make connections and use the information. They may remember the information long enough to pass the test, but eventually they will probably forget most of it. I will find ways to give students some freedom within the guidelines of specific learning outcomes. I plan to design multiple activities or projects that meet the core standards and allow children to choose which ones they want to complete. This will allow more of my students to find meaning in the learning experience and to benefit from it. It will also allow me to accommodate the diverse learning styles of students in the classroom. I feel that it is important to discover students' individual talents and to help them use their talents to succeed.
Assessment:
Periodic assessment in the classroom will be necessary in order to determine whether students are meeting academic goals and whether my teaching methods are meeting their needs, but I do not want this to be a stressful experience. I will avoid lengthy tests whenever possible. I believe in using a variety of methods for assessment. Students who perform poorly on written tests might respond differently if I find ways to present questions in an alternative form or allow them to answer in different ways. I would consider doing some informal assessments in the form of games so that students don't even know that they are being evaluated. In addition to formal assessment, I feel that simple observation is a valuable tool. I will reflect on students' work as they progress through the year to gauge their academic progress.
Diverse Learning Styles/Social Justice/Differentiation/Grading
Although academics and curriculum are an important component of any classroom, they are not the only considerations I will have as an educator. Jane Roland Martin's vision of the “schoolhome” embodies the environment that I would like to create for my students. She emphasizes “safety, security, nurturance, and love.” I feel that providing this kind of environment will allow my students to focus their energy on learning. I expect that there will be diversity among my students, but I don't want that to be a cause of division. By learning children's individual needs and addressing their various styles of learning, I will avoid catering only to a select few who learn the same way that I do. I will create an environment where everyone feels like they can succeed. I don't want my students to feel pressured to achieve a certain grade. Rather, I want them to feel proud of the progress that they are making.
Professional Growth
As a professional, I realize that I still have much growing to do. I have very limited classroom experience, mostly as an observer or a volunteer. As an educator, I know that I will not ever reach a point where my own education is complete. Education is constantly evolving, and I don't plan to be left behind. In order to become as effective a teacher as possible, I will take advantage of educational opportunities provided by the school that I will eventually work for. I will also include reading for professional development in my activities when I am not at school. I will read articles in current education journals as well as books written by leading educators. Finally, I plan to learn through observation and collaboration. I will converse with others and find out what methods have worked for them. I will never stop growing. The road to effective teaching is never-ending, but it is a journey that I am excited to take.