Runninghead:TEACHINGOURFUTURE–ITTAKESAVILLAGE
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TeachingOurFuture–ItTakesaVillage Naticka
A. Sidney
L-27048384
EDUC305-D02
ProfessorThomasMarshall
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Abstract
Several years ago, a well-known artist by the name ofWhitney Houston penned a song entitled
“The Greatest Love ofAll”.The beginning chorus says this: “I believe the children are our
future,teachthemwellandletthemleadtheway,showthemallthebeautytheypossessinside; give them
asenseofpride.”Asan aspiringand soonto bepracticing educator, itisimperative that I strive to
meet the total needs of my students.This involves a collaborative effort among teachers,
students, parents and school administrators.My personal philosophy of education involves
collaboration, networking and relationship-building.It is inclusive of several theories as well as
implementing several methodologies.In this paper, I will address the best way to accomplish the
goal of impacting my students academically and personally, all while giving glory to God.
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Introduction
If it’s one thing I’ve learned while studying to become an early childhood education
instructor, it’s that there is no “one size fits all” approach to instructing our students.As an
educator, I have the opportunity and responsibility to shape my students by modeling right
behaviorandattitude.Iwillfurtherencouragemystudentstostriveforexcellencepersonally and
academically by focusing on their strengths and motivating them in their weaknesses.
Offering a supportive network that involves parental involvement, flexibility in curriculum,
differentteachingstyles,effectiveclassroommanagement,theuseoftechnologyandmorewill aid in
helping me and my students reach their academic goals.My personal educational philosophy
will involve aspects of the traditional philosophies as well as the more modern philosophies all
with the goal to wholly meet the needs of each student.
WorldviewandPhilosophyofLife
The primary goal for educating our students is to prepare them for life outside the
classroom.Education has truly changed over the years and will continue to change as we
progressintoamoretechnologicalsociety.Godcreatedmaninhislikenessandimageeachof us with a
unique purpose to fulfill.I value that uniqueness and this will be beneficial in my classroom as I
will encounter students from different religious beliefs, cultures, ethnicities and socialeconomic
stations.Itis my hopethat my love for my students willpropel them to value one another and the
contributions each will bring to our world.Character and integrity is
integralandImustmodelthebehaviorIwantmystudentstoaspireto.“Godlycharacteristhe
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essentialingredientthatallowsourbeliefs,relationships,abilities,skills,andministriestoflow together
with integrity and bring honor to God continually” (McCullough, 2008, pg. 6),
Philosophy of Schools and Learning.Academic learning should prepare our students for
a whole education which includes academics and moral learning.Critical thinking, reasoning and
life experience all contribute to our students learning the truth.This too is behavior that can be
modeled but also encouraged through interactive and reflective learning experiences and
strategies that promote dialogue.Because there are a wealth of philosophical perspectives, I’ll
address the main two that mirror my belief: Neo-scholasticism and Essentialism.I believe the
basics of learning, Reading, Writing andArithmethic are a necessary starting point for educating
our students.However, as an educator, I recognize that God and education go hand and hand and
it is important to educate the whole student by integrating natural and spiritual
learning.“Education is a blending of ideas, a balanced tension between academic content, the
student as a person, and social behavior; between stress on the mind and
ideas,onnature,andonpersonalrelationships”(Braleyetal,2003,pg.48).Ican’tstressenough that one
size does not fit all.Flexibility in our philosophy and how we express them in our classrooms
must be evident.
InstructionalPractice.WhereasIbelievethatteachersarethemastersoftheclassroom, I also
believe that it requires a collaborative effort inclusive of teachers, parents, students and faculty.I
want my students to focus on the instruction I plan to deliver in a systematic way, but not present
the material so systematically that I don’t allow for input from my students.I will choose the
specific curriculum based in no small part on what my school requires.The students
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willbetaughttheimportanceofmoralbehavioranddiscipline.Subjectssuchasmathorbiology
willbetaughtatspecifictimesduringtheclassperiodusingmemorizationandweeklytestingfor
understanding.For subjects such as writing, language arts and reading I’ll using methods of
guided reading such as DR-TAor KWLas these methods both promote critical thinking and
interaction with the text.“Guided reader-text interactions are an important part of comprehension
instruction” (Vacca et al, 2015, pg. 300).
Teacher-Learner Relationships.My role as a teacher is to teach but it definitely goes
beyond that.Teacher-student relationships are all about foundations and building on that
foundation as the school year progresses.I want my students to trust me and know that I don’t
only care about their academic success, but their personal and social success as well.As
educators,wewearmanyhats:hero,lifecoach,mentor,parent,friend.Ican’tdoeverythingand I won’t
fool myself in thinking that I can, but if my students know that I care about their entire being,
and I offer a positive/inviting classroom environment, I’m confidant they will respond in kind
and my impact will extend beyond the classroom.
Diversity.Students come from different socioeconomic backgrounds, geographic
locations,levelsofparentaleducation,culturalbackgroundsandvaryinglevelsoflanguageskills
allwhich willcontribute to learning success.My classroomdécor willhave items representative of
my unique group of students.The class library will contain books in languages other than English
to reach the demographic that may not be as skilled in English.Students learn by
workingandcommunicatingwithothersoIwillgroupstudentsoftenandallowfordiscussionof
material.I’llalsoencouragetheparentsofmyELLstudentstoparticipateinclassroomactivities and
share things about themselves and their culture.I will ensure that I’m up to date with the
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latest curriculum material as to meet the needs of all my students; those with disabilities, those
that are gifted and English language learners.Instructional approaches and strategies will be
variedasdiversity,whethercultural,geologicalorsocio-economicwillimpacttheclassroombut can be
a great thing as I promote positive peer relationships for my students to have with one another.
Parent Role & Relationship withTeacher.Parents are a highly important part of the
education process.I will communicate with the parents of my students regularly; first by a
welcome letter, secondly at our school’s open house events, and third through progress reports
and/orreportcards.Ialsoplantosendquarterlynewslettersandparentswillhaveaccesstomy personal
email and telephone with the hours I am available for conference if needed.I will not only
communicate when a particular is student is struggling, but also when students are doing
well.Child development takes place in both school and at home and I will ensure that I am
intentional about building and maintaining the relationships I have with the parents of my
students.“Research shows that parents’involvement in their children’s education has benefits
including improvement in attendance, achievement and behavior” (McCullough, 2008, pg. 86).
Conclusion.Ientitledthisessay“TeachingOurFuture-ItTakesAVillage”,forthevery
factthatourchildrenAREourfuture.Asaneducator,Iamresponsibleforshapingthemindsof future
leaders, lawyers, doctors, homemakers, and I’m sure, even teachers.I’m responsible for
modeling the right behavior, implementing and encouraging discipline and showing love.I’ve
always believed that teaching is not just a profession, but a call and I know with the right tools,
support and faith in God, I will help my students attain their goals all the while working toward
my own and that is to: “Teach them well”.
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References
Braley,J.,Layman,J.,&WhiteR.(2003).FoundationsofChristianschooleducation.
ColoradoSprings,CO:PurposefulDesignPublications
McCullough,J.(2008).Kingdomlivinginyourclassroom.ColoradoSprings,CO:Purposeful Design
Publications
Vacca,J.,Vacca,R.,Gove,M.,Burkey,L.,Lenhart,L.,&Mckeon,C.(2015).Readingand learning to
read.(9th ed.).Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education
