Philosophy of Education

KEISHA LIPSCOMB
IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire

-William Butler Yeats

I want to become a teacher because I believe every student deservers the chance to have a positive and meaningful
education. I had a multitude of poor or disinterested teachers growing up. There were a few who loved learning and

therefore were able to excite my interest in learning. I love to learn and will strive to give my students engaging
opportunities and perspectives to further their understanding.

My philosophy of education is more student-based. I believe that every student develops differently and at varying
degrees. I want to meet the needs of these learners while building on their strengths. I believe students should have
active unique learning experiences to help them solve authentic problems. I believe the purpose of education is to
teach students skills on how to learn and think on their own in and outside of the classroom. As a future teacher, I will
improve my methods to better assist my students in their understanding and in meaningful ways. I will be a guide and
facilitate their learning while giving the student an essential part in their own learning and motivation.

Transfer

The more that students practice using what theyve learned to address real-world

tasks and problems-and the more diverse those tasks and problems are-the greater the
probability that students will apply school subject matter in future situations, including
those outside the classroom (Ormrod, 2014).

I plan to encourage transfer for my students through authentic activities and problembased learning. I will create engaging activities that relate the subject being learned to

a worldly issue the students may encounter outside the classroom.

INTASC Standard One

Learner Development

Teachers understand that students learn and progress differently across all development areas. The teacher will use
developmentally appropriate activities to create a challenging and engaging learning experience for all students.

1.

I will encourage positive social development for my students by modeling appropriate classroom behavior while
having students role-play scenarios.

2.

I will relate subject matter to my students existing knowledge, promoting their cognitive process.

3.

I will target my students zone of proximal development to create a challenging learning experience and meet groups
or individuals who may need more or less challenging assignments. Ormrod states, challenging tasks promote
maximum cognitive growth (2014).

INTASC Standard Two

Learning Differences

Teacher understands that a students culture and individual differences will impact how they learn. The teacher will
create a learning environment to help all diverse learners grow.

1.

I will encourage student esteem and understanding by having my students share about their cultures or families.

2.

I will accommodate my students diverse needs. For example, allowing extra time for tests or the use of assistive
technology.

3.

I will give opportunities for my students to improve their work. We must make sure students have many
opportunities to improve and eventually succeed at academic, social, and physical tasks (Ormrod, 2014).

INTASC Standard Three

Learning Environments

Teacher works with others to create a positive environment for student learning, social

interaction, active engagement and self-motivation.

1.

I will use a classroom behavior system that rewards a students good behavior.

2.

I will create a set of class rules with my students, ensuring their understanding of
expectations.

3.

I will construct lessons that offer student collaboration as well as individual learning.

INTASC Standard Four

Content Knowledge

Teacher understands educational concepts and creates meaningful learning

experiences for students, encouraging mastery of the concepts.

1.

I will relate new information to students prior existing knowledge and when possible
to the outside world.

2.

I will clearly indicate what I want the students to learn in a lesson.

3.

I will assess students understanding and evaluate my teaching of the subject matter.

INTASC Standard Five

Application of Content

The teacher understands how to relate concepts to world issues with authentic activities. The teacher
uses different perspectives to encourage critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.

1.

I will make my students learning more meaningful by relating classroom subject matter to issues
outside the classroom they can understand.

2.

I will create activities or projects that allow individual or group collaboration to solve problems with
critical thinking.

3.

I will give my students more opportunities to master concepts by offering multiple approaches to the
content.

INTASC Standard Six

Assessment

The teacher understands how to asses a students understanding of concepts. The teacher is able to use multiple
methods that will asses a students individual growth and is able to monitor their progress. The understanding and
multiple methods will help guide the students decision making and teachers as well.

1.

I will use formative and summative assessments to identify a students strengths and areas with needed
improvement.

2.

I will evaluate my instruction and lessons to maximize the accessibility of understanding for my students.

3.

I will work with students to further their understanding of content and use research based methods to asses
students.

INTASC Standard Seven

Planning for Instruction

The teacher makes plans for instruction that will help support every students growth in a challenging
and engaging manner. The teacher will use knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary
skills, pedagogy, and knowledge of learners to create proficient instruction.

1.

I will use the backward design, in which a teacher first determines the desired end results, then
identifies appropriate assessments, and finally determines appropriate instructional strategies
(Ormrod, 2014).

2.

I will plan for the use of differentiated instruction in my classroom in all subject matters.

3.

I will plan to align my lessons with the standards in place.

INTASC Standard Eight

Instructional Strategies

The teacher is knowledgeable of different instructional strategies and uses these strategies to encourage their students understanding of
content. The students understandings and connections are made meaningful, while also developing their skills to apply this knowledge in

a significant way.
1.

I will incorporate different strategies like learner-directed instruction to engage my students while allowing them the choice of where
our learning goes.

2.

I will offer my students different avenues of choice in the content being learned. When teachers use academic choice to structure
lessons, children become purposeful learners who engage in an activity because they want to, not because the teacher told them to.
The work with a sense of competence, autonomy and satisfaction. This is essential to learning (Denton, 2005).

3.

I will evaluate my instruction strategies and try to improve or change them when needed to promote student understanding.

INTASC Standard Nine

Professional Learning and Ethical Practice

The teacher participates in ongoing professional learning and uses the evidence learned to
evaluate their teaching. The teacher specifically evaluates their effects of choices and actions on
others. The teacher acclimates their practice to better meet the needs of each learner.

1.

I will continue to evaluate myself as a teacher and effectiveness of strategies I use.

2.

I will use feedback from colleagues and students to better meet the needs of my students.

3.

I will continually seek professional development opportunities to acquire evidence-based

methods to implement in my classroom.

INTASC Standard Ten

Leadership and Collaboration

The teacher seeks proper leadership roles and opportunities. These occasions will give the
teacher a chance to take responsibility for their students learning, a chance to collaborate with
others and ensure learner growth, and to advance the teaching profession.

1.

I will seek appropriate leadership roles in and outside the classroom.

2.

I will get to know my students and the community to encourage students progress.

3.

I will collaborate with students, colleagues, families, and the community to promote student
progress and my practice.

References
Denton, P. (2005). Academic Choice. Responsive Classroom Newsletter. Retrieved
fromhttps://www.responsiveclassroom.org/article/academic-choice
Ormrod, J. E. (2014). Complex Cognitive Processes. Educational Psychology Developing Learners (194-225). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson.
Ormrod, J. E. (2014). Cognitive and Linguistic Development. Educational Psychology Developing Learners (18-53). Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson.
Ormrod, J.E. (2014). Personal and Social Development. Educational Psychology Developing Learners (54-89). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson.
Ormrod, J.E. (2014). Instructional Strategies. Educational psychology Developing Learners (380-421). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson.