Running head: STRENGTHEN MY MIND 1
Strengthen My Mind
Bridget Pruitt
L24711553
EDUC 504
Dr. Ringstaff
Liberty University
PORTIONS OF THIS PAPER WERE DRAWN FROM A PREVIOUS WORK SUBMITTED IN
EDUCATION 500
STRENGTHEN MY MIND 2
Abstract
Education is a big focus on our society as well as the individual. As a teacher I believe that
personally, ethically, and academically should be the main focus of facilitating learning and
growth to each individual. However, I believe that in order for me to accomplish my goals I must
personally respect each student as if they were my own child (ren). In other words, ethically I
should provide honest communication and emphasize how important it is that we trust one
another. I would instill in each child the importance of academic learning and that through
inspiration and motivation we both will learn as a whole. For both the individual and myself,
teaching and learning will become a journey and a genuine intensity for learning. Furthermore,
ethically correcting behaviors within my classroom will prepare each student expectations for
their survival into the future. All students deserve a chance and that allows myself to teach these
children to the fullest so that they can go towards future endeavors just as I did.
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My teaching philosophy is to nurture all students and be able to teach them in a way that
will create enthusiasm and passion to them throughout their lifelong learning. I believe that all
children should have the ability to learn and accomplish their goals that they strive for. It is the
teacher’s responsibility to fulfill these children’s goals to the best of the teacher’s ability.
Children look up to their teacher’s as mentors when they are making choices for intelligent
discoveries. In other words, when a teacher shows passion in the subject of study the children
discovers their strengths and will set higher expectations for themselves. As always
communication promotes sharing of ideas as well as providing the children with a network of
support. I encourage each and every child and that allows them to build their self-esteem for
lifelong skills. “Christian view of man is that he is understood primarily from the standpoint of
God, rather than the uniqueness of his rational faculties of his relation to nature” (Knight, 2006).
However, as I chose to become a teacher, I committed myself for the students of today and the
future to become the best personally, academically, and ethically.
Worldview & Philosophy of Life
As a Christian, I enjoy life through the eyes of Jesus Christ. I value all individuals equally
and feel that all individuals can accomplish all goals that they strive for. After attending my class
last week I seen a different worldview of my life. It is really hard to implement values and
morals in everyone, although our country is lacking both. However, values and ethics have been
a major part in education for many years. As a teacher, I develop a more ethically classroom that
shows values within each student that I teach. “With the community-of-enquiry-approach the
sorts of skills the children are learning are as follows: speaking and listening, social skills,
democratic processes, basic reasoning skills like how to agree and disagree and link comments to
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others” (Worley, 2009). Although, I cannot develop a Christian based classroom I can implement
how a student should act and preform throughout their young lives. I am a believer and I feel that
he shows His absolute truths to each and every one of us. God actively works with each one of us
whether we know it or not. “The important thing about students, from the pragmatists’
epistemological viewpoint, is that they have experiences” (Knight, 2006). This could be one
thing that is important for students, however by putting God into their lives will also allow them
to experience many wonderful things in life as well. I am to guide each student to realize that
education is a major part of their lives along with God. It does not matter whether a student
wants to be a scientist or a janitor they should all be treated with respect and guidance. I highly
value my classroom and implement to all my students the foundations of truth and values.
However, my teaching methods may vary depending on the classroom and their learning
abilities, although the students are not treated any different they are just taught differently.
However, Worley (2009) states that “to be doing philosophy one also needs to be engaged in
special kinds of thinking and discourse such as metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and more
complex reasoning”. I value the importance of a personal mentoring relationship with the
student’s. As a teacher, I concern myself with the student’s academic achievements and make
sure that I create opportunities for each student. All schools rather it being a Christian based,
private, or public schools should transmit traditional values of moral and intellectual knowledge
so that students can become model citizens.
Philosophy of Schools & Learning
I believe that each student should have the same rights as everyone to self-development
and realization. I believe that teaching is a calling from God and it allows me to hopefully reach
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each student not only spiritual but intellectual. It is my responsibility as a teacher to make sure
that each student accomplishes their goals in the classroom. “Teaching learning process should
be flexible that gives opportunity to the learners to think critically and learn things according to
their own curiosity and interest” (Neelam, 2014). I will provide modeling to each student and
promote healthy practices that aim at maintaining my own personal health along with the well-
being of the student’s. I value a lifelong learning process. I feel that learning never ends and
should be continued throughout your life. There is so much that a teacher can add to their
student’s. However, I value responsibility to each student throughout their acknowledgement of
education. “Education is distinct from the broader concept of learning, since education embodies
the idea of deliberate control by the learner or someone else toward a desired goal” (Knight,
2006). Most of all there should be honesty and guidance. I apply both of these to my student’s
and explain to them just how important it is to be honest and show guidance to everyone that
needs guidance. There should be mutual respect that cultivates an academic relationship, in
which will lead to a give-and-take educational union. As a public school teacher, I have seen
where values and morals have been wiped out of our school system.
Instructional Practice
In other words, I believe that pedagogical reflection is necessary in producing a complete
teaching philosophy. If pedagogical is absent from the daily instruction then the teacher is
failing. However, I believe that teachers can translate a full teaching style of inconsistencies, and
they can be poorly designed and coordinated throughout the instruction. As Neelam (2014) states
“moreover, learning environment should be such that promotes diversity and a positive learning
environment”. As a teacher, I believe that informal as well as formal classrooms are important,
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due to the fact observations allow students to interact with one another. As stated by Levitt &
Szwajkowski (2015) “differentiated instruction is a philosophy that values diversity and
recognizes learners as individuals in pursuit of common learning goals. There are many different
lesson plans and strategies to be a proactive teacher. It is very important as a teacher to provide
literary instruction. This instruction enables students to comprehend and evaluate different
reading materials.
Teacher – Learner Relationships
This section is very important to both the teacher and the learner. Learning is very
important in both the student’s and teacher’s perspective. I chose education to be my career due
to the fact that I want to encourage and educate all students so that one day it will make a
difference in their lives. Teachers should encourage and engage with students when a student
asks a question. This allows a good opportunity for the remainder of the class to learn new
objectives. “Similarly teacher should be flexible enough to articulate her teaching strategies that
cater to the individual needs of learners” (Neelam, 2014). The learner must decide what type of
learner they are; for example, if they learn better in a quiet place or if they learn better with soft
music playing. “Learners and teachers traits are social stimuli able to incite reactions that
account for how learning unfolds” (Otmar, Varela & Cater (2015). Although, characteristics of
good learners either student’s or teacher’s should be to pay attention while the lessons are taking
place so that the teacher’s or students can ask appropriate questions. The teacher and learner
relates by interactions. With communication either in small groups or individualized allows both
teacher and student to learn. It is mostly important as a teacher to process and utilize information
so that students are able to obtain as much information as possible when learning. Neelam (2014)
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states that “a teacher should have the capability to polish the critical thinking, decision making
and problem solving skills in the students so that they can be prepared for their bright futures”.
Teachers should be able to convey important knowledge and to emphasize the importance of
essentialist curriculum to the students. “The Christian educator must recognize and respect the
individuality, uniqueness, and personal worth of each person” (Knight, 2006). Progressivism’s
respect individuals and create a well-rounded environment for the students. However, there are
critics that would differ on the philosophy of education theories, however after carefully learning
the difference between the theories they are rely on education values and morals being important
to all the students. Helping students learn to respect others and themselves, develop a deep love
for one another as well as feeling free to express themselves. I feel that assisting children
towards developing their minds is a crucial thing in the student’s educational lifestyle.
Diversity
As a teacher in a low-income minority school, I feel that there is not enough emphasis but
forward to these students. I have worked in many different schools and I have found that the
lower income children are the ones that love the most. It is wonderful to go to work and have so
many loving children come up to you and say good morning with hug smiles on their faces.
There are many individuals that feel that they are not able to accomplish as much as a majority
group of student’s. I value each student whether they are minority or majority and treat them
equally. Knight (2006) states that “within the formal schooling system the teacher is the most
influential educational professional in terms of impact upon maturing young people”. As a
teacher there should be no difference in ethnic backgrounds. It literally makes me sick to see a
teacher that does not teach her students the way they should be taught. Teachers are role models
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to many students and most of the students look up to their teachers for guidance, coach, mentor,
and even as a parent. All of the students are here to learn and they should be given equal
opportunity for achievement and to meet the same goals as all students. Teachers should know
how to educate whether the student is poor or wealthy, that should not play a factor at all on how
you educate that child. Silverman (2010) states that “teachers’ sense of responsibility is
hypothesized to be influenced by their judgments of efficacy and advocacy and their
understanding or endorsement of broad culture-related terms. “Unfortunately, simply being
aware of this marginalization is insufficient if teachers do not feel responsible for transcending
current norms in multicultural education in an effort to end marginalization” (Silverman, 2010).
The diversity should not impact instruction at all for the teacher, however I have witnessed
several teachers that show a difference in the ethnic backgrounds of children. I feel that due to
the love of children there should not be a difference on the teaching of the student’s diversity.
Current Critical Issues in Education
There are so many issues in the public schools system currently that it is really alarming.
As Knight (2006) states that “an especially powerful influence on the development of critical
pedagogy has been the third-world educational program of liberation and development. As a
teacher and a parent of children in the public schools systems it frightens me to think that my
child is being educated the way some teachers teach. I am aware not all teachers teach the same
way, however I just wished all of the teachers loved their jobs the way I do mine. As Knight
(2006) states “the better way if for educators and educational systems to individually examine
their own beliefs in terms of reality, truth, and value, and then consciously to build a personal
educational philosophy upon that platform. I believe common core continues to be a big issue in
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education today. However, student learning is another critical issue. However, learning is a
pathway to graduation and by having motivated teachers to push and encourage students
hopefully the students will begin to think that learning if an important aspect into their lives.
Technology, social media, politics, high-stakes testing, school leadership, and school climate are
some other critical issues within the school systems. Unfortunately, poverty will continue to be a
big issue in schools because these students tend to get unrecognized for their achievements. We
need teachers that love their jobs and students instead of just wanting a paycheck, our students
are our future and they should be given as much knowledge and growth so they are prepared for
adult lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the impact of education will always be a major issue in teacher’s and
parent’s minds. As a parent I want the best education for my children and it just seems that
education continues to decline in how the education is being taught. Teacher’s should always
ethically, personally, and academically encourage their student’s to the best of their ability.
Teacher education is responsible for engaging learning and meaningful programs to all students.
Furthermore, all students have different learning styles and a well-rounded teacher should be
able to implement the different styles to the students. I believe in nurturing each student and
educating them so that their self-esteem can build. There are many students that has low self-
esteem and feel that they cannot reach their goals in life and as a motivated teacher, the teacher
has to be able to guide these students so that they reach their goals. As I further my education I
see myself working towards changing educational values and morals within my school district. I
plan to receive further training in hopes to becoming a principal one day. My philosophies of
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education are focused on training and teaching the students for tomorrow, not the past. I think
that students should be given knowledge and education on real world experiences, and they
should all be acknowledged as one not a group but as one.
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References
Knight, G. R. (2006). Philosophy & Education. An Introduction in Christian Perspective.
Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press. ISBN: 978-1-883925-54-3.
Levitt, S. & Szwajkowski, C. (2015). Teaching with Primary Sources. Retrieved:
www.tpsnva.org.
Neelam, S. P. (2014). My teaching learning philosophy. I-Manager's Journal on Educational
Psychology, 7(3), 9-12. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1693778793?
accountid=12085
Otmar, E., Varela, J., & Cater, M. (2015). Learner –Instructor Similarity: A Social Attribution
Approach to Learning. Journal of Management Development, Vol. 34 Iss 4 pp. 460-475.
Silverman, S. (2010). What is Diversity? An Inquiry into Preservice Teacher Beliefs. American
Educational Research Journal, Vol. 47, No. 2 (June 2010), pp. 292-329.
Worley, P. (2009). Philosophy in Philosophy in Schools. Think, 8(23), 63-75.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1477175609990066.
