Personal Philosophy There are many factors that influence the way a teacher runs her classroom.

Life experiences, societal ideas, and personal opinions all impact an individuals teaching philosophy. When I think of my future classroom, I see lots of color, I hear happy voices, and I feel learning happening all around me. There are several educational philosophies that relate to my teaching ideas. The educational philosophies that I connect with the most are progressivism and existentialism. Using a combination of these philosophies will allow me to create the classroom environment I have envisioned, while facilitating learning and personal growth in my students. Many of the ideas of progressivism are ones that I could see myself implementing in a future classroom. Progressivism was developed in the United States in the 1920s. Since then, many of the aspects of progressivism ideals have been used in classrooms across the country. Progressivism emphasizes hands on and active learning. David Labaree (2005) explains that in todays world, progressivism in education means promoting discovery and self-directed learning by the student through active engagement (p.277). Students can see a clear relation of how material covered in classrooms relates to the real world. This helps learning have more meaning and impact, allowing students to take their learning to places outside of the classroom. Labaree (2005) suggests that progressivism means basing instruction on the needs, interests and developmental stage of the child; it means teaching students the skills they need in order to learn any subject (p. 277). As students explore their own interests and passions, they become problem solvers and make connections to their surrounding communities. Progressivism was my second highest score on the McGraw-Hill assessment. Progressivism teaches students how to learn, how to be responsible members of the community, and how pursue what sparks their interest. I believe that it is crucial for students to be taught

2 skills that will translate to all subject areas. I also think that students should be able to transmit their schooling and education to the real world. Education should not simply be limited to benchmarks and standards. Instead, students should also learn skills that help them become successful and responsible members of society. In order to reach all students, it is crucial for a teacher to find ways to relate to each and every child in the classroom. Students must be urged to pursue their own interests in order to receive the most out of their schooling. In my future classroom, I will create activities and lessons that allow students to pursue their personal interests and become exceptional members of the community. Through introspective processes, real life examples, and community involvement, my students will be taught in a progressive way. The educational philosophy that I connected with the most was existentialism. Existentialism education is very focused on the student. In an existentialism classroom, students create their own meaning and purpose through their schooling process. Existentialists suggest that education should be centered on the feelings of the student. This educational philosophy allows students to delve into their feelings and emotions, while still learning important subject matter. Clifford Mayes (2010) suggests that the principal idea of existentialism is the most important thing that a person can do in life is to discover what is most important to him at the deepest level (p. 29). This form of education can bring an extreme amount of meaning to a students schooling. The ability to develop and grow as an individual should be a central part of the education process. Existentialism was my highest score on the McGraw-Hill assessment. I believe that I relate to this educational philosophy because of my own past schooling experiences. Surprisingly, I do not support existentialism because I was taught in an existentialist way. In fact, I find myself agreeing with many of these ideas because I was never encouraged to find my

3 own meaning in my education. I remember feeling as if I was learning things simply to pass a test. I do not want my students to feel like this. Instead, I want to incorporate activities such as think-alouds and reflective writing assignments to allow my students to find meaning in what they are learning. Before taking the McGraw-Hill assessment, I knew that I felt strongly about many aspects of education. Taking the assessment allowed me to put a name to these feelings and ideas. My personal philosophy is a combination of both progressivism and existentialism. I want my students to develop as individuals, take part in active learning experiences, and find meaning in the content that is presented. I hope to create a classroom that is full of love, support, and energy. I want students to walk into my classroom and know that great things are going to happen. Discipline will be important in order to create the climate I have in mind. I feel as if students should always have a clear understanding of rules and expectations. I see myself being an authoritative teacher. I will encourage independence while also providing warmth and support. I believe that each student deserves an opportunity to become great. I want to do everything in my power to create a classroom climate that inspires growth, stimulates learning, and develops well-rounded individuals. Through the implementation of progressivism, existentialism and my own personal educational philosophy, I believe I can create a classroom that welcomes all types of learners from all walks of life. I am anxious to become the teacher I have always wanted to be, and to make a difference in the lives of many children.

References Labaree, D. (2005). Progressivism, schools and schools of education: An American romance. Paedagogica Historica, 41, 275-288. Mayes, C. (2010). Five dimensions of existentially authentic education. ENCOUNTER: Education for Meaning and Social Justice, 23, 28-37.