Kaitlin Jenkins

Philosophy of Education

April 2, 2015

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn, Benjamin
Franklin. Based on my educational experiences thus far, I have truly learned and retained the
most information when I was involved in my learning. I recall teachers who simply taught at the
front of the classroom while I sat at my desk, which made me feel disconnected from my teacher,
classmates, and work. However, I have also had teachers who created engaging environments
through student-centered learning. As a teacher, I want my students to be actively involved in
their learning process and make decisions that best fit their needs.
Before I can make students active participants in the classroom, my students need to
know that I am interested and care about their lives, learning styles, and opinions. My favorite
teachers in elementary school were those who went out of their way to get to know me; by doing
so, I felt cared for, motivated, and established a positive relationship with them. By getting to
know my students I hope to create an environment in which they know that I am interested in
who they are beyond their academic strengths and weaknesses.
Besides school, students have many other aspects that make up their lives. I believe that
students should incorporate their interests, hobbies, and culture to give meaning to their learning.
I also believe the more connections a student can make, the more he or she will learn. Every
student is unique and it is my responsibility to determine his or her capabilities and create
relatable lessons. I want my students to have the ability to choose how to complete an
assignment and relate their work to their lives outside of the classroom. I hope that through
making connections to their lives and choosing how to show their understanding of a concept,
students will be more involved and be able to personalize their learning experiences.
I believe that in order for students to make connections and be engaged in their learning,
they should collaborate with their classmates, conduct experiments, and complete projects. Since
every student in my classroom will have individual strengths and weaknesses, I want to provide

choices and opportunities for demonstrating success. I hope to show my students how to
effectively collaborate with their classmates and apply the information they learn to their lives
and real world situations. Having experienced filling out worksheets and workbook pages all day
in my early schooling years, I believe that this method is disengaging and limits student
potential. For this reason, I want to create active learners who can show the information they
have learned in a way that demonstrates their abilities.
Although I am in the early stages of being an educator, I am certain that I want my
students to feel cared for, be able to make connections to their lives, and be actively engaged in
their learning. As a teacher, I do not want to plainly tell or teach my students, but as Benjamin
Franklin said involve them. It is only through involvement that students will learn information
and carry it with them for the rest of their lives.