Running head: STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
Statement of Philosophy
Kandi Massey
University of Montevallo
1
STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
2
I believe that the purpose of education is to “emphasize essential knowledge” (Parkay,
2013, p. 138) while “helping develop personal values”(Parkay, 2013, p. 139). The focus should
be to guide students to “find meaning in their lives” (Parkay, 2013, p. 130) through academic
study, while “ensuring practical preparation for life and work” (Parkay, 2013, p. 139). The
purpose of education is not to teach social values but reinforce them. Therefore, I will strive to
provide an education in English Language Arts that provides students with the opportunity to
discover the value in their lives. To do this, I will provide students with opportunities to choose
books they read within a controlled environment. I will also “emphasize discipline, hard work,
and respect for authority” (Parkay, 2013, p. 139).
I believe the educator should be a facilitator of knowledge. He or she should teach
students how to learn, not just feed them information. An educator should provide a safe
environment, be a mentor, role-model, and counselor for his or her students in order to create an
active learning environment. Therefore, I will approach each student with care and treat them
with respect. I will design a classroom environment that is conducive to learning by allowing
“opportunities and resources to discover their own concepts” (Parkay, 2013, p. 118) by
“emphas[izing] interdisciplinary subject matter that encourages a project-oriented, democratic
classroom” (Parkay, 2013, p. 138).
I believe the student should be an active learner and participant in daily classroom activities to
create a positive learning environment. They should come to class prepared, having done their
homework and with all materials needed for the day.
Therefore, I will encourage students
to stay motivated. By treating students with respect, “creat[ing] opportunities to make personal
choices”(Parkay, 2013, p. 140), and allowing multiple opportunities for demonstrating their
knowledge, they will have more ownership over their work.
STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
3
I believe teaching methods and strategies are what define educators, separating them from the
others in their field. These methods and strategies govern a classroom and how the students learn
and receive knowledge. Therefore, I will incorporate multiple teaching methods and strategies
into my daily lesson plans, which “provide individual freedom, require them to ask their own
questions, conduct inquiries, and draw their own meaning” (Parkay, 2013, p. 130). I will
employ instructional strategies such as jigsaw, direct instruction, directed reading, mini-lessons,
discussions, debates, and reading circles.
I believe students need to be assessed in order to determine if they are learning. However,
because not all students are the same, the method of assessment should not be the same.
Assessments should benefit a child, not hinder learning. Therefore, I will provide different ways
of assessment in order to measure a student’s potential to the fullest. Assessment methods will
include alternative methods such as portfolios for literature units, but is not limited to traditional
style exams in the style of state assessment exams.
I believe educators should have a “positive attitude towards students” (Parkay, 2013, p. 10).
Negative attitudes about students “create a relationship based on fear and coercion” (Parkay,
2013, p. 117). An environment should be one that is conducive to positive student learning where
students would feel safe, respected, and welcome.
Therefore, I will strive to be welcoming,
loving, respectful, and kind, but firm. I will endeavor to inspire kids to do their best. By keeping
students motivated and engaged, there should not be any room for behavior problems. However,
I will treat problems that do arise with fairness.
I believe each child learns differently due to the varied backgrounds from which they come.
Therefore, diversity plays an essential role in the class and should be considered in the
curriculum. Therefore, I will create an atmosphere that is conducive to diverse learning. An ideal
STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
4
classroom will “have all sorts of activities and emphasizes students’ previous experiences”
(Parkay, 2013, p. 118). I will include multiple learning styles in my teaching methods and
assessment formats in order to maximize full learning potential, emphasizing the use of
differentiated instruction.
I believe educators have a duty to behave professionally at all times, both in and out of the
classroom. Professionalism encompasses behavior and communication with parents, students,
fellow faculty and staff, and the community. In addition, “reflection and self-assessment are
hallmarks of professionalism in teaching” (Parkay, 2013, p. 457).Educators must stay up to date
in their field and flexible enough to adapt to new teaching methods. Therefore, I will create my
own personal code of conduct, which I will display within my classroom and on my classroom
website, which sets the standards for me. Furthermore, I will continue to stay ahead of my field
through studying educational research and theories, attend professional development sessions,
and being self-reflective through my students’ evaluation. Finally, I will be self-reflective to
determine what methods are and are not working for my students. I will promise to use available
resources to be the best educator I can be for my students.
I believe every educator should set goals for both themselves and his or her student for which
they continually strive to achieve. By setting goals, the educator will always be continuing to
improve and perfect his or her craft. Therefore, I will set goals on which I will self- reflect on a
continuous basis. My goals as a teacher are to teach the necessary skills students need for life,
develop openness to new ideas, and teach students how to be successful in my content.
I believe that my teaching style reflects a Constructivist perspective and follows the
philosophy of Existentialist. I believe that while the content the students learn is important, it just
as important that students make connections to the content. I plan to apply this philosophy
STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
through a Constructivist perspective in which I would use cooperative learning groups for
students to construct meaning, rather than transmitting knowledge through a traditional lecturestyle.
5