Teacher Education
Department of Early Childhood Studies
3214 Austin Street, Houston, TX 77004
713-718-6303 phone 713-718-6235 fax
EDUC 1301 Introduction to the Teaching Profession
EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
(Common Assessment)
Required Component – This assignment (educational philosophy statement-common assessment) is
required for completion of this course. If this assignment is not completed with 70% of possible points, you
will not receive a passing grade in this class.
Program Student Learning Outcome #2- Provide students with an opportunity to examine teacher
preparation programs, effective teaching strategies, employability, and the role of educators, as they
decide whether teaching could be a satisfying career for them.
Project Description
EDUC 1301 is designed to provide students who think they may be interested in a teaching career with
information related to the culture of schooling, the system of American education, and opportunities to
participate in early field observations. One of the benefits of this introductory/foundational course is that it
allows students to sort out their feelings about being suited for teaching and their chosen grade levels. As
you are gaining more exposure to different ideas, best teaching practices, and philosophical orientations,
you should now be able to better determine: your own beliefs about how children or youth learn, the role of
the teacher, the role of the learner, the ways you will seek to establish a classroom climate conducive to
learning, how you will manage student behaviors, and implement curriculum and instruction.
Before beginning this assignment, be sure to go back and read your textbook chapter on the four major
philosophies influential in our system of schooling. Also revisit the text’s discussion of the various theories
of learning (e.g. behaviorism and constructivism). Think about the aspects of each philosophy and each
learning theory and decide which of them best reflect or support your personal viewpoints about teaching
and learning. Then, write a 5-8 page paper that clearly articulates your philosophical outlook. You can use
the questions that have been provided (as well as any others added by your instructor) to guide you as you
develop your essay.
Educational Philosophy Paper Outline
I.
Introduction
a. Why have you decided to become a teacher?
b. What qualities, skills, talents, and characteristics do you have that employers might look
for in a prospective teacher?
c. Why is it important for you to establish or develop an educational philosophy? How are
teacher beliefs tied to teaching behaviors?
EDUC 1301 Common Assessment – page 2
II.
Beliefs about Learners and Teachers
a. How do you believe that students learn best? What is your ideal learner profile?
b. What do you believe is the role and responsibility of student learners?
c. What do you believe is the role and responsibility of a teacher?
III.
Beliefs about Classroom Management, Curriculum, and Instruction
a. How do you intend to establish a classroom environment that is conducive to learning?
b. What system or approach will you use to manage student behavior? What rules, routines,
and procedures will you put into place?
c. What do you believe should be the nature of the curriculum? How should it be organized?
Implemented?
d. What instructional strategies or techniques will you use to convey information and facilitate
the learning process?
e. What are your views about partnering with parents/families in the educational process?
IV.
Core Values and Guiding Educational Philosophy
a. What is your underlying purpose as a teacher? What values do you believe are important
enough to be emphasized in your practice?
b. Which of the four philosophies that have served as the cornerstones of education in the
U.S. is most closely aligned with your beliefs, values, and other ideas? Why do you think
so?
c. What other support do you have for the approach to teaching you have selected?
V.
Conclusion
a. In summary, why should an administrator or parent decide to hire you as a final candidate
rather than someone else?
b. What key points or essential elements of your beliefs do you want the reader of this essay
to walk away with?
EDUC 1301 Common Assessment – page 3
Student Name
Date
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
4
3
2
1
The document
includes all of the
relevant aspects of
an educational
philosophy and
clearly discusses: the
author’s core values
and beliefs regarding
the roles of teachers
and students; the
teaching/learning
processes; classroom
management and
curriculum
The document
provides clear,
specific, and
concrete examples to
explain and illustrate
the author’s views;
shows clear selfanalysis and insight,
and evaluation of
positions held
The document
includes most of the
relevant aspects of
an educational
philosophy and
somewhat discusses
the author’s core
values and beliefs;
missing no more
than two of the areas
of focus that were
provided
The document
includes only some
of the relevant
aspects of an
educational
philosophy and
minimally discusses
the author’s core
values and/or
beliefs; missing
three of the areas of
focus that were
provided
The document
includes few of the
relevant aspects of
an educational
philosophy and does
not discuss the
author’s core values
and beliefs; missing
four or more of the
areas of focus that
were provided
The document
provides some
examples to explain
and/or illustrate the
author’s views; little
improvement needed
(clarity, specificity,
or concreteness;
self-analysis, insight,
and/or evaluation)
The document does
not at all provide
clear, specific, or
concrete example to
explain or illustrate
the author’s views;
appears lacking in
self-analysis, insight,
and the evaluation of
positions held
Connection to
Course
Content
The document
clearly presents or
integrates into this
statement, ideas
from one or more of
the 4 philosophies
that are presented in
the text and tells
why/how the ideas
support the author’s
own values or
beliefs
Structure
The document is
clearly cohesive and
organized; the
opening is
interesting and
engaging; each
paragraph builds on
the other and
transitions to the
next; there is a
conclusion that
brings closure to the
topic
Mechanics
and Style
The document has 13 errors in spelling,
punctuation, and
grammar; citations
are all provided
according to APA
guidelines
The document
presents or
integrates into this
statement, ideas
from one or more of
the 4 philosophies
that are presented in
the text; needs little
elaboration on
why/how the ideas
support the author’s
own values or
beliefs
The document is
mostly cohesive and
organized; some
revision and/or
elaboration is
needed to make the
opening more
interesting and/or
engaging; a few
problems with the
building and/or
transitions of
paragraphs; the
conclusion needs
little refinement to
bring clear closure to
the topic
The document has 46 errors in spelling,
punctuation, and
grammar; citations
are mostly provided
according to APA
guidelines; some
improvement needed
The document
provides few
examples to explain
and/or illustrate the
author’s views;
much improvement
needed (clarity,
specificity, or
concreteness; selfanalysis, insight,
and/or evaluation)
The document only
minimally presents
or integrates into this
statement, ideas
from one or more of
the 4 philosophies
that are presented in
the text; needs some
elaboration on
why/how the ideas
support the author’s
own values or
beliefs
The is only
somewhat cohesive
and/or organized;
much revision
and/or elaboration is
needed to make the
opening more
interesting and/or
engaging; several
problems with the
building and/or
transitions of
paragraphs; the
conclusion needs
much refinement to
bring clear closure to
the topic
The document has 57 errors in spelling,
punctuation, and
grammar; citations
are somewhat
provided according
to APA guidelines;
much improvement
needed
Expression of
Ideas I
Expression of
Ideas II
The document does
not at all present or
integrate into this
statement, ideas
from one or more of
the 4 philosophies
that are presented in
the text does not at
all tell why/how the
ideas support the
author’s own values
or beliefs
The document is not
at all cohesive or
organized; the
opening is not at all
interesting or
engaging; many
problems with the
building and/or
transitions of
paragraphs; the
conclusion needs
total revision in
order to show that it
brings closure to the
topic
The document
has 8 or more
errors in spelling,
punctuation, and
grammar; citations
are not at all
provided according
to APA guidelines;
total revision needed
Points
Awarded
EDUC 1301 Common Assessment – page 4
Data Collection Matrix
Instructor Name: _________________________________ Campus: __________________
Semester: _______________________________________ CN: ______________________
Student
Name
Expression
of Ideas I
Expression
of Ideas II
Connection Structure
to Course
Content
Mechanics
and Style
Assignment Final
Grade
Course
Grade