Courtney Goodwin

11/28/2014
My Educational Philosophy
Each student is a distinctive individual who needs to know I will meet their physical,
emotional, and intellectual needs in the classroom. Therefore, as a teacher, it will be my
responsibility to create a safe, caring and stimulating atmosphere where students can reach their
greatest potential. Teachers have to create an environment where students feel supported to take
risks allowing them to feel safe to share their ideas without the fear of receiving criticism. In
such an environment, the teacher guides students to respect others setting the stage for academic
success.
To start with I will base my philosophy of education on my sense of teachers efficacy.
Defined as, the teachers belief that he or she can reach even difficult students to help them
learn (Woolfolk 5). Anita Woolfolk has completed many studies on this idea, and it appears that
teachers with a high sense of efficacy are more persistent and go to further lengths to help the
most difficult students learn. If a teacher has a low sense of efficacy, they will not believe that
they can teach that student and that the student cannot learn regardless. Based on these facts a
teacher should have a high sense of efficacy, and I will strive to have a high sense of efficacy in
my classroom.
In an Agricultural classroom, an important thing to focus on will be differentiated
learning because of individual students level of intelligence. In a shop class, I could have
students who have been welding for years, students who have never seen a welder, as well as,
students with learning disabilities. In a situation like this, a review of shop and welding basics for
everyone in the class would be the first thing. Once in the shop the teacher should spend extra
time with the least advanced students with guided instruction while the already advanced
students practice on their own. This approach will allow the students with know how to improve
their skills, while providing extra help to those who need it.
Recently, research has shown that learning styles may be learning preferences instead and
that people can learn even if the knowledge gets presented in a different way. Even though, the
students may be able to learn regardless of delivery method, it will be my job to consider their
learning preferences, and present the information in the best way possible for students to learn.
Woolfolk supports this with Gardners multiple intelligences theory, any discipline, skill, or
concept should be taught in several appropriate ways (but not eight ways every time) (Woolfolk
122). Based on Gardners theory, as a teacher I will need to present the information in multiple
ways that are effective for the students learning styles or preferences. However, not in too many
ways as to confuse the students or not spend enough time on each one. It is the teachers
obligation to ensure student mastery of each concept taught and introducing the information in
multiple ways will help all learners.
Rote memorization, though not always a good tool to use can be useful in an agricultural
classroom. All freshman or first-year agriculture students called Greenland, have to learn the
FFA creed, a five paragraph long speech about the importance of Agriculture. Other areas, where

Courtney Goodwin
11/28/2014
this would be effective would be preparing for FFA competitions like prepared public speaking,
creed speaking, radio and skills. All of these have long speaking parts that need to be word for
word. Repetition is a way students can learn these materials word for word. Additionally,
teachers should stress the significant meaning of each part of the FFA creed. I will incorporate
other techniques such as mnemonics to help students remember important information as needed.
Besides student learning, teachers should develop superior classroom behavior
management skills. Without good classroom management, it will be difficult for quality learning
to occur in the classroom. Positive practice based on B. F Skinners theory of operant
conditioning is a good way to achieve good behavior. Students do not receive punishment but are
required to replace the wrong action with the correct one using this method. It can be useful
when dealing with academic and class procedures, as well as, disciplinary actions. Some refer to
it as Positive practice overcorrection or practice academy. Schools use these phrases because
students will practice the proper or required action until they become almost instinctive.
Practice Academy helps students realize the proper way to perform specific tasks, says teacher
Dollie Fisk from Quinlan ISD, who uses it in her classroom whenever necessary.
Finally, because each student learns differently, it is important to evaluatedelivery of
the information (Woolfolk 315), often and evaluate why a student might be having difficulty
learning the content. Then most importantly they must make changes to help the students be
successful based on what the teacher sees during the evaluation process. Depending on their
findings, teachers should utilize a variety of techniques to help students learn. Teachers should
assess the learning throughout the class, as an example looking at the students weld to assess if
they have gotten it down and then helping them figure out proper techniques. It is important to
conduct formative evlauations often to determine why a studentmight be having difficulty
learning the content. Students begin to understand how to set goals and take responsibility for
their learning. As a teacher, it will be my responsibility to provide students with tools they can
use to cultivate their knowledge. To help accomplish this skill teachers can tie learning to real
world activities.
Without a doubt, teaching is a lifelong learning process, therefore, with experience new
philosophies and strategies will continue to mold and change my philosophy of education. Above
everything else, I hope to instill my love for agriculture and a desire to continually learn in my
students by sharing my passion with them daily. Modern society depends on maintaining and
increasing agriculture careers as well as encouraging the conservation of natural resources. It is
important that students receive a solid education to preserve the way of life in rural America.
Teachers must have a solid background in the curriculum they teach and be sensitive to each
students individual needs. It is my desire to be the best educator that I can be by continually
seeking to improve my knowledge of content and pedagogy that focus on student achievement.

Courtney Goodwin
11/28/2014
References
Woolfolk, Anita. Educational Psychology. 2013: 5,122,315. Print. November 2014
Fisk, Dollie. Personal Interview. 25 November 2014.