Running head: TEACHING PHILOSOPHY 1

Teaching Philosophy

Brittany Crankshaw

Regent University

In partial fulfillment of UED 495 Field Experience ePortfolio, Fall 2017

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My goal as a teacher is to educate students and teach them what they need to know in

life. Academically, this means meeting the objectives for the year. Additionally, I want to teach

students lessons about life, society, and the world around them because I believe that too many

young adults have been negatively affected by a lack of knowledge in this area. Most

importantly, I want to teach them about God’s love. To me, this is not simply a smile when the

students walk through the door each morning. Though I will greet students at the beginning of

the school day, I believe that Godly love needs to be more active than this. It involves

disciplining students and showing them that they are valuable. Moreover, it involves sharing the

Gospel with them and teaching them how to share this Gospel with others. I do not just want to

make an impact on students’ academic lives; I want to make an impact on their spiritual lives.

One of the core beliefs of my teaching philosophy is that every child is a unique and

valuable being created in God’s own image (Genesis 1:27, New International Version). As a

teacher, I seek to show students their worth and the worth of those around them. Children are to

be treated with love, and they need to be taught how to treat others with love. Stemming from my

belief that every child is valuable is the belief that every child is capable of learning. We all have

different abilities, as well as different struggles. We see the world in a diverse variety of ways, so

we have different learning styles and preferences. These differences are a large part of what

makes us valuable, so they should be celebrated, not squelched.

When each child walks in my classroom, I want to learn about all of the many types of

learners represented in my class. Each student has a different starting point, so I must get on their

level to learn where they are at academically. Then, I must build on their strengths to bring them

to where they need to be. This will be different for each student, which is why I believe that

learning needs to be personalized. Lessons need to be differentiated to meet every student’s

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needs. These lessons should be engaging, and I believe that the best way to do this is through

knowledge of each student’s interests, extracurricular activities, and hobbies. When lessons

connect to real-world activities and they can be applied to students’ everyday lives, students are

more apt to learn and retain this knowledge. I also believe that students need to be challenged,

and this will be reflected in my lessons. I want to show students that they can exceed their own

expectations. Furthermore, I want to teach lessons that give students the knowledge, skills, and

wisdom that they need to make a difference in the world, both academically and spiritually.

I believe that discipline is a necessary part of the learning process (Proverbs 13:24). It

should never be used in an authoritarian way. Rather, it should be carried out in a loving manner.

It should adequately address the student’s misbehavior. Effective discipline redirects students

using positive words, such as “walking feet,” instead of “no running.” It shows them where they

went wrong, what they need to do to fix their mistakes, and how they can do better in the future.

When misbehavior affects other students, I believe that those students also need to be taught how

to forgive their peers. This will enhance the atmosphere of the classroom by encouraging good

behavior and creating positive relationships among students. When I teach, it is my goal to help

students grow morally, not just academically.

My classroom will be a welcoming environment where students feel safe and

comfortable. It will have several different learning areas, including a reading area, where

students can go if they need to calm down, and a science exploration area, where students can

practice concepts that are being taught in class. These areas, and the classroom as a whole, will

encourage creative thinking and facilitate learning across the curriculum. I believe that mistakes

help us learn, and my classroom will reflect this. Students will be free to share their ideas
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without the fear of ridicule from their peers. I will exemplify respect toward my students and

teach them how to respect their peers.

I believe that who we become is often built upon who we have been and what we have

learned along the way. As a teacher of elementary school students, I look at how far each child

has already grown, and I acknowledge that who they become in adulthood is affected by who

they are today, the experiences they undergo, and what they learn. The harshest of criminals and

the holiest of saints all started out as students. As a teacher, I cannot determine the path of these

children, but I can have an impact on them in this stage of their lives.

In my own life, I have seen how those I encountered as a child had an impact on who I

am today, whether positive or negative. Many of the beliefs stated in this philosophy of

education come from the people I have met, the lessons I have learned, and the experiences I

have undergone. I have had many kind and loving teachers, so I understand the impact that a

loving atmosphere can have on a student. I emphasize the value of each child because I have

seen how the lack of this knowledge has affected society as a whole. Few of my beliefs about

education have changed much in the last decade or so. However, I have seen how these beliefs

and ideas have grown and evolved. What started as simplistic ideas have become my entire

motivation for teaching. I teach because each child deserves to know about God’s saving grace,

and they should be given the tools that they need to spread this good news, even in their youth

(Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Timothy 4:12). I teach because God has called me to make a difference in

eternity.
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References

New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, n.d. BibleGateway.com. The

Zondervan Corporation. Web. 27 Oct. 2017.