Kimberly Lopez

Personal Philosophy

2/7/19

Personal Philosophy

Every child is unique in their own way. Each child grows at their own
developmental level and each child comes from a family that have their own
beliefs and values. As a future ece I believe it is our responsibility to understand
the child as a whole and base our curriculum according to the child’s needs. As
educators we should set up a high quality classroom environment where the child
can grow, learn and explore at his or her own developmental level. I will be talking
about the goals of teaching and ways to accomplish them. As well as what I feel is
the true meanings of pedagogical processes and inclusion. My philosophy will talk
about what kind of way children should learn, grow, and develop, what I believe
about parent involvement, curriculum, assessment, and positive guidance. How I
think it is the best.

I believe that as a future educator my goal is to promote the physical, social,

emotional, and cognitive development of each child. I also believe that play should
be the base of learning since children learn best by doing. As educators we must
find a balance between teacher-directed and child-initiated activities. As
physiologist Jean Piaget states “a student’s efforts come from the student himself
instead of being imposed and that his intelligence undertakes authentic work
instead of accepting predigested knowledge from outside, it is simply asking that
the laws of all intelligence be respected” (Dunlap, 1997). This can be done by
using the developmentally appropriate practice approach, which means that
activities should be “appropriate for each child and relevant to the child’s ability,
needs and interests” (Miller, 2010, p.2). As educators we should cooperate with the
child’s family and respect the child’s culture.
 I believe that parent involvement and positive guidance is key to every
child’s happiness and is so important for me to have in my future classroom! I
believe that each child’s parents should be involved in every work that the child
learns no matter what. Parents are the number one role models for children. That is
who children look up to the most. When I become a future educator my number
one priority would be to make sure that the parents are involved as much as
possible with my students. Coming up with family event plans, and other events
for parents to participate with their children in school and come up with some that
are out of school and be able to work at it at their home. Coming from a
background where family was sorta involved with me while I was in elementary
school hurts alot and I wouldn’t want any child feel left out if their parents don’t
participate with them at the school or at home working on homework.

I believe that the true meaning of pedagogical process is the art of teaching.
It is how the educator teaches the child. For me the best way to teach a child is to
guide the child in a positive manner. A young child spends most of his or her day
at childcare, where they are surrounded by his peers and a teacher, it is the way that
the educator guides the child in the right path that I believe is important. Anyone
can teach a child, even a book can teach a child how to do a certain thing, however
it’s the guidance that the child needs to help him decide right from wrong. We
should encourage inclusion, where every child is seen as equal, a child’s cultural
background, special need etc. should not encourage a child to be excluded from the
curriculum. As Ian (John) states “Not the children of the rich or of the powerful
only, but of all alike, boys and girls, both noble and ignoble, rich and poor, in all
cities and towns, villages and hamlets, should be sent to school. Education is
indeed necessary for all, and this is evident if we consider the different degrees of
ability. No one doubts that those who are stupid need instruction that they may
shake off their natural dullness. But in reality those who are clever need it far
more, since an active mind, if not occupied with useful things, will busy itself with
what is useless, curious, and pernicious.” (Traversa, 2012).

Educators should treat each child as independent individuals and respect

them. Creating a positive environment is important, as a future ece we should
provide all the necessary equipment that the child needs. As well making sure that
any conflicts that arise with peers should be sorted out in an appropriate and
professional manner. I feel as a future ece I should be committed in making sure
that each child’s need is met and that every child is given space and the
opportunity to grow and learn.

There are many curriculum’s set out that are used to build the foundations
of young children. I personally believe that a bit of each curriculum should be
emerged together since each have their own ways of teaching strategies that apply
on educating a child. Waldorf Education is a great teaching style, Roberto Trostli
(2004) says, “The task of education, understood in a spiritual sense, is to bring the
soul-spirit into harmony with the temporal body. They must be brought into
harmony and they must be tuned to one another, because when the child is born
into the physical world they do not yet properly fit each other. The task of the
teacher is to harmonize these two parts to one another”. I also like the High Scope
approach where play is emphasized, since children learn best through play and
doing. Another curriculum that I really enjoy some parts of is the Montessori
curriculum where the children teach themselves, they are motivated to learn
through “living and walking about” (Anderson, 2011). It teaches children to be
independent and use their inner instincts to learn about the world around them.

In conclusion I believe that as future ece’s we are the curriculum, it is how

we envision the child that will lead us to be a better educator focusing on the
physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of each child. Being a
guide for the child to learn right from wrong and build a positive foundation of
learning. As well as being a positive role model for children by resolving conflicts
in an appropriate manner. Since there are many different curriculum models out
there I believe that taking parts of each of the models and emerging them into one
would be the best way for a child to learn. One looks back with appreciation to the
brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The
curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for
the growing plant and for the soul of the child.
 References

Anderson, A. (2011). Montessori. ​High Scope and Curricullum.​ Barmpton,

Ontario, Canada: Sheridan College Institue of Technology and Advanced
Learning.

Dunlap, L. (1997). ​High Scope: One Program Model .​ Retrieved from

education.com:
http://www.education.com/reference/article/high-scope-one-program-model/

Miller, D. F. (2010). ​Positive Child Guiedence.​ Belmont: Wadsworth CENGAGE

Learning.

Traversa, J. (2012). Time Line A Philosophical Perspective on Early Childhood

Education. ​Professional Pracice​. Brampton, Ontario, Canada: Sheridan College
Institute Of Technology and Advanced Learning.

Trostli, R. (2004). ​Waldorf Early Childhood Association North America (WECAN​.

Retrieved from The Waldorf Kindergarten: The World of the Young Child:
http://www.waldorfearlychildhood.org/articles.asp?id=3