Ashley Watts – Philosophy of Education

“I guess you will have to learn it twice.” These were the exact words said by my sixth-grade teacher

when I told her that I have already learned the material being taught because I had the same textbook the year

before, in my previous school. As a young student I was really confused by this, and a little upset because I

feared I would fall behind. This particular teacher inspired me to become an educator because I knew that a

teacher should want all of their students to learn, even if that means doing some extra work. As a future

teacher, I believe every student is capable of learning something new, and that it is essential to differentiate

instruction based on the needs of the students. A classroom should be a child’s safe place where they come to

learn and freely express themselves each day, and that is the environment I hope to create one day for my

students.

I believe that students learn in many different ways, and this will reflect on how I teach. Howard

Gardner believed that we could enhance education by presenting it in different ways based on how the students

learn best. He identified seven different learning styles a student be classified fall under: visual-spatial, bodily-

kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, linguistic, and logical-mathematical. It is important to get to

know each student and understand their learning styles so that they will be successful. Today’s technology

makes it possible to implement many of Gardner’s learning styles into my everyday instruction. I know that in

order to motivate my future students to want to learn, I need to understand what motivates my students first. I

also believe that when educating children, it is important to understand Lev Vygotsky’s theory of the Zone of

Proximal Development. The Zone of Proximal Development refers to what a learner can do on their own and

what a learner can do with some assistance. Proximal refers to materials a student is close to mastering, but not

without some support from the teacher. This is relevant to me as a teacher because I want to always scaffold

learning, so students are interested. I want my instruction to be challenging for students who may have already

mastered the content, and just right for students who may or may not need some accommodations.

Another belief I have as a future educator is to be kind and respectful to my colleagues and to continue

to be a lifetime learner. I will ask my fellow teachers for advice when I need it, and I will always try my best to

help them if they need me. There is always room for improvement when it comes to being an educator, so I

will always consider my colleagues constructive criticism. I will be professional and avoid spreading gossip. I
will be patient with parents and communicate with them often. Teaching won’t be easy, I won’t always be an

expert, but I am excited for a journey of lifelong learning. Each student will bring something new to my life

and I will cherish that. I can’t wait to be a teacher because I will be the happiest woman alive, knowing that I

have impacted the lives of the children who will become our future.
 APA Sources:

Lane, C. (N.D.) Multiple Intelligences. Retrieved from

https://www.tecweb.org/styles/gardner.html
McLeod, S. (2019). The Zone of Proximal Development and Scaffolding. Retrieved from
https://www.simplypsychology.org/Zone-of-Proximal-Development.html