Friday, January 20, 2012
Welcome to Mr.Rogers' neighborhood
As I was trying to establish my philosophy on education, I determined what better place to start then with my own educational experiences. I know things have changed greatly since I was in school but some things seem to remain constant. For example, the teacher is something that has remained a constant. Along with the teacher, the student also has remained a constant. As I look back on my educational experiences, the teachers that I benefited the most from were the ones that cared about the students and cared about what they were teaching. Their care and concern for me made me want to excel. Their passion for the subject they were teaching was contagious. I believe that the teacher's care and concern for the student was what John Dewey called sympathetic observation. I see that as an important part of education in my philosophy. As a special education teacher I know it will be challenging because of the special needs of my students. I want to be the best teacher that I can be and from my philosophy of education I can do this by showing them that I care and I believe that they can succeed.
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I completely agree with you that having an amazing teacher helps the student learn so much faster. As a behavioral management specialist I observe a lot of classrooms. Some of the classrooms I go to have amazing teachers and you can tell the students want to be there and then some classrooms have good teachers but they aren't enthusiastic or upbeat and the students look bored out of their minds. I think it takes a certain kind of person to be a special education teacher. That person has to be passionate but also needs to have structure to their classroom and their classroom will run smoothly.
ReplyDeleteI think that, it is a little idealistic to think that teachers and students are the same, say, now, twenty years ago and forty years ago. Students today seem to require greater stimulation and lack self starting behaviors or the intrinsic desire to learn. I agree a passionate teacher can certainly encourage and stimulate like minded students, but, how does their passion get those students who are basically getting by and want just to get by? When do we get to a point of making tough decisions which will benefit the majority, to teach the majority and then let the minority just get by (wherever that may be).
ReplyDeleteI believe that the best teachers are those who invest themselves in the success of their students. When you have a teacher that truly cares what they teach, and if their students learn, that makes a huge difference. Like you said passion plays a critical role in the classroom and having a student witness that can be contagious. When you have a passionate teacher a student at the very least would respect and appreciate what is being taught and even be inclined to find their own passion. I also liked your point about having sympathetic observation which is a powerful tool to be more in tune to the needs and progress a class or student requires.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right on...teachers who simply give information to kids aren't doing their job to their full potential. As teachers, I think we need to inspire the kids and give them a drive, if not a passion, for the subject. Attitude is indeed contagious: both good attitudes and bad attitudes. A teacher who is excited about what he is doing and who expresses in a true manner to the kids that he really has a passion for both what he is teaching and for seeing the kids succeed will be successful, as will his students. Likewise, a teacher who clearly displays little interest in the subject, or worse, little interest in the success of the students, will lead his students down the same path. Our job is to guide young people through the murky process that is becoming an intelligent, respectful (and respected), and compassionate adult. Our attitude towards teaching and students can go a long way in either bringing this to fruition or destroying it.
ReplyDeleteUnknown is me (Sean Sacoman). Apparently I can work blog magic without even knowing it...
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