Philosophy of Education

Grace Mintz

I believe that learning occurs best through experience. Through

different experiences, students construct their own view of the
world and determine what is relevant to their life and what is
not relevant. Therefore, a student learns the most deeply when
they choose to engage in the classroom experience because he
or she understands how the information relates to their life.
Because a student needs relatable experiences, I will design
every lesson plan to tie into the real world and connect it to the
students life. Field trips and hands-on activities will be a
regular part of my classroom. Through the theories of
constructivism, students will learn by using experiences both
within and outside of the classroom in order to construct their
own knowledge.
I believe that every student is fully capable of learning, and
simultaneously I believe that every student learns differently.
Some students need visual experiences, some need tactile
experiences, and some need auditory experiences. It is my role
as an educator to provide the greatest learning opportunity to
every student in my classroom. I am not the final source of
information, but merely the facilitator that leads each student to
learn on their own. It is not my duty to simply spoon-feed
information, but rather create a love for learning within each
individual student. I will do this through using strategies like
student choice, preferred activities, and problem-based
learning.
Assessment is an important aspect of any classroom. I will use
both formative assessments, such as an exit ticket or a graphic
organizer, as well as summative assessments, such as a test or a
culminating project. I will be very familiar with the starting
point of each of my students, especially within reading and
math, and I will judge student learning not by one test score,
but rather by looking for a pattern of growth. My goal for my
students is not memorized information or even passing test
scores; my greatest desire for each student is for them to feel
valued by recognizing that they have been created for a
purpose. C.S. Lewis states, Education without values, as useful
as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil. While
my goal is to educate students to the fullest potential, I want
them to also recognize the greater purpose behind the
education.

School prepares students to function in the real world. The

classroom consists of students from a variety of different
backgrounds. Through promoting community through class
meetings, students begin to respect each other and let down
walls. I will conduct class meetings every morning that allow
students to combine educational and social skills with their life
outside of the classroom. It is my desire to know the background
of each of my students in order to include all ethnicities, family
situations, and interests. I will consider both cultural differences
and ELL students. Flashcards and computer programs are a
great way to incorporate ELL students. Through promoting
unity and acceptance within the classroom, my students will
ultimately learn how to live a life that respects everyone and
feel safe in a classroom environment where they can learn from
experience.