Bob Foster Joann Ficken EDUC 101 10/24/2012 Teaching Philosophy From the time I was in second grade

every football coach I had would touch on life in general and that I needed to learn how to deal with adversity just as much a triumph. This and many other experiences set the tone for my teaching philosophy. I feel that school should prepare kids to deal with society and the challenges society brings to the table. In other words, I am a mixture of progressivism and social reconstruction. When I look back at who I most role modeled in life I would have to say it was my uncle. My uncle was that fun uncle but he also helped me through some of the hardest parts of my life. He did all this not by making decisions for me, but by helping see the ups and downs, consequences, and benefits for each choice. This helps paint a picture for what I believe teachers need to help their students learn. We, as teachers, need to teach the curriculum, but we as teachers fail the kids if we dont send them off in the world without certain life skills. Among these skills are discipline, dealing with adversity, teamwork, compromise, and sense of pride.

Progressivism is defined in the book as an educational philosophy emphasizing real-world problem solving and individual development. In the recent past a reform movement called the 21st century movement that focuses on the cognitive skills that students will need to survive and succeed in a rapidly changing world has re jump started the progressivism way of thinking. Social reconstruction is defined in the book as an educational philosophy asserting that schools, teacher, and students should take the lead in addressing social problems and improving society. These two philosophies, when combined, form Bobfosterism. Bobfosterism is defined by me as an educational philosophy that takes the curriculum and uses it to form all types of challenges and successes that will create a full individual. This full individual will have not only learned the material but learned how to be a POSITIVE functioning part of society. Good social morals are developed while students participate in class. The first and for most reason for a student attending class is to perform in the classroom and better oneself for life after graduation. Very important life skills are learned in a classroom setting. Among those are discipline, commitment, competition, success, failure, and dealing with adversity. Some of these life skills are not obtained anywhere else. It is the

duty of the teacher(s) to instill these skills. When one deals with and teaches all of these skills their maturity level and social understanding is put at a higher level. With that in mind a young man/woman has key life resources to better themselves and others. We as teachers carry the responsibility to have our students go all out to succeed in all of these aspects.