As a teacher, my philosophy of education centers on the child and their development as a person. I feel it is most important that the student move toward becoming more independent. Students cannot become independent thinkers and individuals if the teacher is always the one to make decisions and tell the students what they are to do. I feel the main purpose of education is to allow the students to become responsible and productive citizens.
My duty is to teach, of course, but in a facilitating manner as to guide the students into the learning rather than in an authoritative manner. This, however, does not mean that there is no organization or order in the classroom. I try to provide developmentally appropriate practices and experiences. According to Piaget, a great number in the researcher in the field of education, children at eight or nine years of age become more able to classify according to more than one variable, to rank order items in logical series, to understand that amounts of mass or liquids do not change just because their shape does, and to intellectually manipulate new and more complex relationships. Spoken and written communications improve as children complete their basic understanding of grammar.
Also, even though students at this age have a much more mature understanding or many processes and relationships, it is still based on concrete reality. Learning takes place most successfully when concrete objects are present. Therefore, I believe in providing as many concrete learning experiences as possible for the students. I also feel students need to be exposed to as many creative experiences through much writing as well as art activities. Therefore, I will involve my students in lots of writing activities and art activities as well. Not only is writing important but reading and lots of it is very important. The more a child reads and is exposed to rich experiences; the more information he or she will have to pul from when it comes time to write.
