Jillian Brown 20 April 2013 Philosophy of Education The purpose of education in todays society is to provide students with the

best instruction possible in order to give them the knowledge that will lead to their own successes later in life. I feel as an educator that it is my job to teach my pupils to the best of my ability by planning out lessons that are educational but still enjoyable for the children, so they can acquire an interest in learning. As students enter my classroom, they will have varied and diverse backgrounds depending on their culture and the environment in which they have been raised. It will be up to me to create lessons that will build upon their current knowledge while challenging those who are capable of doing more. By differentiating my lessons, I can meet the various needs of all of my students. I plan to incorporate differentiation into my classroom by having some of the students doing the basic lesson/activity while others have a harder version. For instance, my class may be currently reading books about animals at a beginning first grade level; however, for my more advanced readers, I will select books on the same topic but at a beginning second grade level. In order to determine the needs of my students, I will administer assessments and use their data to form my instruction. By giving pre-assessments, I can determine what my pupils already know in any subject area. Utilizing formative assessments, mid-way through my lessons, will help me to gauge what my students have learned and tell me where their weaknesses lie. Summative assessments will be given at the close of my teaching units in order to measure the growth of their knowledge. Since students and their school districts are evaluated so heavily on

Jillian Brown 20 April 2013 testing data, I know how important it is for todays classroom teachers to fully use assessments and the data that they generate. I believe that part of the teachers role is to be a facilitator in the classroom. In other words, as a teacher, I will lay the ground work for teaching my students the various concepts in their curriculum; however, then, I will give them ample opportunities for hands-on activities, which will enable them to actually apply their knowledge. For example, different centers could be set up for the students to explore and extend their understanding of a recent math lesson that was taught. To keep children interested and highly engaged, I will make use of technology in the classroom. Since technology is used widely in the world today, it also needs to be a part of our schools. By incorporating devices such as Smartboards and Ipads, students can expand their knowledge and be connected to resources beyond their textbooks. When it comes to the role of a student in education, each one needs to try to work to the best of his individual ability to understand the curriculum concepts. As their teacher, I will insure that I give every one of my students the confidence to reach for the stars, but also the realization that they are in a safe environment where it is alright for them to make mistakes. I also think that every student must learn to work together in a group of fellow students. Being able to work effectively in a group is extremely important for students of all ages because it teaches them problem solving skills and how to communicate their ideas to their peers. As they later graduate and become part of the work force, they will find these skills essential for their careers. In my classroom, I will create opportunities for my pupils to work with one another. Along with working with students and their parents, an important part of being an educator is collaborating with my fellow teachers. I believe I can be an effective team player

Jillian Brown 20 April 2013 because I can communicate my ideas well to others, but I listen to everyone elses thoughts as well. I enjoy building off of other peoples ideas to try to make a plan even greater, yet I am capable of compromising on the end product whenever it is necessary. There are many components that go into the role of an educator in the community. I think that my actions as a teacher must represent my school well in the community. I want to make sure that my actions serve as a role model for my students when they are in the outside community as well as the classroom. I feel that an effective instructor is willing to listen to the concerns of the students parents along with being able to communicate well with them. Teachers should always keep parents updated when it comes to their childrens education through tools such as classroom newsletters and school websites. I want to make sure that all the parents understand that they have an important role in their students education. Parents are important partners with educators because the parents help is often needed to provide practice and reinforce important concepts by assisting with or monitoring homework. In the past, I have been fortunate to have had teachers that have been enthusiastic, caring, and inspirational, thus, creating role models for the teacher that I want to become. I hope as an educator that I can create and instill an enthusiasm for learning for all of my students. I am excited that as a teacher, I will be able to impact each childs education, and I know that what I teach the students could have a later influence on their lives or future careers.