Philosophy+of+Education

Philosophy of Education

 //If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.—Henry David Thoreau// For me, growing up, there was an intrinsic motivation to work hard and do well in school. My mom, a 3rd grade teacher, and my dad, a high school principal, always made me believe that school—and especially **learning**—was not only important but exciting. For a lot of kids, for a variety of reasons, that drive simply may not be there. One part of my job as a teacher is to find out what makes a kid “tick”..what moves my student from inaction to action…and to grow THAT to help develop and practice his or her own intrinsic motivation.

Philip Mountrose writes that “  School is where (kids) spend so much of their childhood, and the effects of school experiences can last a lifetime…(We need to) remember that any time a kid experiences a positive shift in his or her school outlook, many other areas can also benefit.” I believe that by modeling a positive attitude and fostering those behaviors in the classroom, teachers have the chance to impact how their students approach new tasks and learning experiences.

Like with motivation, some abilities are present…some have to be discovered, taught and practiced. As I observe and interact with my students at work and at play, I hope to uncover their natural abilities—to find opportunities for them to grow and learn individually and collectively. Increasing ability cultivates self-confidence...which in turn is a powerful motivator for an increased desire to learn.

Every day, in the classroom, my job will be to do whatever it takes to guide students through the process of learning in order to acquire and sustain the product of achievement…to help them discover that lifelong learning is the FOUNDATION upon which they can build their castles.