Brittany Courtot

Spring 2016
Philosophy of Education
All students are on a journey, as they move on this journey, they deserve to feel safe and be
allowed opportunities to grow in all areas of life. A classroom should be a place which
encourages risks, creates a culture of respect, takes advantage of mistakes, and promotes inquirybased learning. As these areas will be crafted by students, it will contribute to their development
and growth upon their journeys.
My role, as the teacher, will be to facilitate my students in their journey of learning. In the
content of Social Studies, I believe that asking questions and working from varied sources while
doing so inspires personalized growth beyond knowledge of the content. Within the classroom I
will provide access to this through a variety of experiences and hands-on activities. These
experiences will be made into opportunities for students to practice cross-subject skills such as
literacy, clarity in writing, the cooperative ability as well reflective skills.
During lessons I will be using multiple means of instruction, many of which relating the content
to the students personal lives. In this, I will seek to answer the: So What? question inherent
within the subject matter of Social Studies. I will design lessons around student interest and
student curiosity, which shall encourage students to be intrinsically motivated, independent
learners. The subject of Social Studies will be used as a baseboard to make connections within
the students personal lives as well the world writ large.
As a learner as well as a Teacher, each day will offer new experiences for growth in the
profession. I will use student feedback in constructing lessons, which offer growth experiences
for students. I will be a positive, calming influence on my students so they may be better able to
meet the goals or rigors of their particular journeys.