My Philosophy of Education Combining Progressivism,...

My Philosophy of Education: Combining Progressivism, Essentialism and Behaviorism Upon being faced with the task of writing my philosophy of teaching, I made many attempts to narrow the basis for my philosophy down to one or two simple ideas. However, I quickly came to the realization that my personal teaching philosophy stems from many other ideas, philosophies, and personal experiences. I then concentrated my efforts on finding the strongest points of my personal beliefs about teaching and what I have learned this semester, and came up with the following. The first and most important of the three formal educational philosophies that have been major influences on the formation of my own philosophy is†¦show more content†¦Progressivism teaches not only the importance of individuality, but the importance of respect for the individuality of others? as well. The next philosophy from which I have gathered ideas for my philosophy is essentialism. Essentialism is the back-to-basics approach to education that endeavors to instill students with the essentials for academic knowledge. It is the philosophy that prompts educators to teach students traditional moral values and intellectual knowledge. Essentialism is important because it introduce and implants in children the knowledge needed to become model citizens. Through the essential method of teaching, students learn the social, political, and economic structures of our nation?s society. This allows them to grow into educated adults with their own opinions, and who have the ability to make knowledgeable decisions. The last of the formal educational philosophies that is reflected in my own is behaviorism. This philosophy is derived from the belief that free will is an allusion. Behaviorists believe that human beings are shaped entirely by their environment. This belief proves to be especially true in a classroom setting. When one is given an incentive to work, they strive much harder to reach their goal. This is why teachers must take responsibility in giving students some sort of reinforcement--a reward of some kind to work for. A piece of candy, a token, or evenShow MoreRelated Philosophy of Teaching Essay1107 Words   |  5 PagesPhilosophy of Teaching Twelve years ago, I was not interested in becoming a teacher. I was content with my life. Then, I had two wonderful children. As they became school age, my opinion of teachers was immensely altered. I have spent countless hours within my children’s school, became personally connected to the wonderful individuals who were their teachers, and developed a respect for these tireless workers. These individuals have created a desire within me to enhance children’s lives andRead More Teaching Philosophy Statement Essay984 Words   |  4 PagesTeaching Philosophy Statement Aristotle once said, â€Å"The one exclusive sign of thorough knowledge is the power of teaching.† Teaching enables students to gain the intelligence needed to excel in life. I believe that a teacher’s philosophy of education is a crucial role in his or her approach to leading students on their educated path. A philosophy of education is the set of beliefs that every school and every teacher stand behind. The certain philosophy that one chooses provides the answersRead More I Want to be a Teacher Essay711 Words   |  3 PagesI Want to be a Teacher When I was in high school, I worked as an aide in an elementary school during one period of the day. When I first began working there, I had second thoughts about choosing education as a career, but then I worked with Michael. One of my tasks was to listen to Michael read everyday and monitor his progress. Michael was a problem child who people tended to turn away from, but I was drawn to him. Michael became something of a project for me. I found thatRead More Statement of Educational Goals And Philosophy Essay1874 Words   |  8 PagesEducational Goals And Philosophy The nature of students is that of an instinctive ability to learn. Students of ages and all grade levels reflect their surroundings and respond according to their interpretation. Naturally it is not only the influence of a classroom that shapes a student but many outside factors that determine students’ goals and abilities; for example, healthy encouragement from parents. Students may find a natural ability to perform in one area of education and with help