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Philosophy of Education: Special Populations

Autumn Black

Education 2301
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Philosophy of Education: Special Populations

When I think about my decision to become a teacher, the first thing that comes to mind is

the importance of recognizing each student and appreciating the qualities that make them unique.

In being an educator, it is of utmost importance to me to create a comfortable and productive

environment that is inclusive to all students. I believe that it is my responsibility as a teacher to

create a classroom in which students can grow and reach their full potential. These include the

students that fall into the categories of special education, english language learners, homeless

students, and gifted and talented students. These students are what create a diversified classroom

and they are often underappreciated, unrecognized, and therefore not able to fulfill their true

potential. As a teacher, my goal is to include these students, recognize their strengths and what

make them unique, and to guide them in recognizing their full potential.

In deciding what type of educator I want to be and the standard in which I will require

myself to uphold, it is crucial for me to be able to include and appreciate the students in which

would be identified as being a part of the Special Populations of education. My role as the

teacher will be to make sure that my students feel prepared and ready to learn. My desire is to

assist each child in recognizing their own potential that is unique to that of the individual. I will

present a curriculum that will be relatable to each student and their lives and abilities.

As an educator, I believe that it is important to not only acknowledge the students that

have special needs, but to celebrate them. To accomplish this, I plan to present my classroom as

a safe place where students can come and feel comfortable. I plan to have snacks, clean clothes,

and water available to all my students. While this is not typical of a classroom, I want to my

students to have that availability in case of need and desire. I want my classroom to serve as a
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source of comfort and enrichment for the students whom do not feel that sense of security within

their home lives.

My greatest desire for my students is that they walk away from my classroom feeling

accomplished. I want to offer a classroom setting that is open-minded to each individual and

their desire to learn. I plan to use positive reinforcement and hands-on activities in order to

engage my students and their potential. I would like to create assignments that require students to

test their skills in group projects, online assignments, and private study as a few possibilities. I

believe that offering a wide array of topics and engaging each learning style is the most effective

way of making sure that is possible.

Teaching is an opportunity to learn from your students. I hope to learn as much from my

students as they learn from me. It is important to maintain a willingness to learn as an educator.

As a teacher, I will try to enrich the minds of my students regardless of their background, needs,

and abilities. I want my students to understand the importance of education and leave my

classroom feeling accomplished. My hope is that my teaching strategies will inspire my students

to learn and think outside of the box. I want my students to understand education and have a

positive outlook and openness to learning. I want my students to walk away with an eagerness to

learn and a drive to never quit. I want each student that I encounter to be able to look back and

reflect on me as being the educator that impacted their lives in an incredible and positive way.

My greatest desire is to be the teacher that my students never forget.