Lindsey Ragan
Philosophy of Education
Beliefs and Values about Learning
First and foremost, I believe that all students can learn. However,
all students cannot learn in the same way. Students and teachers
should work together to determine the most optimal way for the
students to learn. I also believe that it is very important for students to
collaborate while they are learning. I do not think that students learn
well in a silent classroom. Student learning should also be rooted in
the real world. Students want to know that what they are learning is
important, and I think that they are more engaged in learning if they
know that what they are learning is important.
My CSI mini-units support my beliefs and values about learning.
My mini-units were differentiated to meet the needs of my students.
For example, during stations in my math mini-unit, students who are
kinesthetic learners had the opportunity to build three-dimensional bar
graphs. Students who are visual learners were able to make bar graphs
using markers and chart paper. I also included plenty of opportunities
for my students to talk to each other and work together in both of my
mini-units.
Educational Theorists
All students can learn and all students possess a form of
intelligence, and this statement is backed up by Howard Gardners
Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Gardner does not think that
intelligence is only measured by IQ. Gardner believes that intelligence
is the capacity to solve problems or to fashion products that are
valuable in one or more cultural setting (Brualdi, 1996). Howard
Gardner believes that there are seven different types of intelligence,
and they are: logical-mathematical, linguistic, spatial, musical, bodilykinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. It is impossible for
teachers to create lessons that engages all of these different types of
intelligences at one time, but a teacher should engage as many as
possible. My math mini-unit engaged students who are intrapersonal,
interpersonal, spatial, linguistic, and logical-mathematical. I really like
Gardners Theory of Multiple Intelligences because I feel that it is not
only applicable to the classroom, but it is also applicable in the real
world. If a teacher can help a student learn how to use their
intelligence, then the teacher is setting that student up to become a
life-long learner. I support life-long learning because learning takes
places outside of the classroom and learning occurs throughout the
rest of your life.
I believe that students learn best when they are able to ask
questions, and seek those answers on their own, and Jerome Bruners
Constructivist learning theory, called Discovery Learning, supports this
statement. Discovery learning allows students to explore the world that
they live in. It also encourages students to perform experiments and
answer their own questions. I think that it is so important to create
independent learners. I think that my math unit provided a lot of time
for my students to learn independently because the majority of my
lesson was spent in stations where they had to problem solve with
their peers. Bruner believes that discovery learning keeps students
engaged and motivated to learn. Discovery learning also helps
students to become creative thinkers and problem solvers.
Professional Literature
I think that the best learning happens in a classroom where a
teacher allows the students to have on topic discussions. Rachel
Rudham says, A noisy classroom is a thinking classroom. (2001)
Rudhams article talks about the importance of having students learn
how to speak to and listen to each other, and I agree with her. She says
that when we allow our students to talk, then we get a glimpse of what
they are thinking. It is so important to let your students talk not only to
you, but to each other as well. When I plan my lessons, I include many
opportunities for my students to talk to each other.
I think that it is very important for students to learn through real
world problems. We are creating students who live in the real world, so
I think that they should learn how to problem solve in the real world.
Nancy Nagel wrote a book about students learning through real world
problems. She also believes that learning should be interdisciplinary,
and I agree with her. Students will not encounter science, writing, and
math in isolation in the real world; students have to problem solve
using a combination of skills. Teachers should teach interdisciplinary
lessons rather than teaching all of the subjects in isolation.
Best Practices
One of the most important things that I have learned from my
time in the classroom is that the students bring their home lives with
them when they come to school. A lot of the students that I have
encountered need love from my cooperating teacher and I because
they were not getting the love that they needed at home. This made
me realize that my job requires so much more than the facilitation of
learning and some students need a lot more than just knowledge. I
think that it is so important to have a personal connection with your
students. Teachers should ask their students questions about what
they like and what they think. Students want to know that they matter.
I also think that it is important to have open communication with
the parents of your students. Parents need to know when their child
struggles or when there is a discipline issue, but I also think that it is
important to let parents know positive things about their child too. I
want to call the parents of students in my classroom and brag about
their behavior or about how much progress that their child has made.
Communication with parents is so important because it benefits the
child. I think that a child is more successful when his parents and
teacher communicate frequently and are able to share thoughts about
his learning and well-being.
Professionalism
I believe that teachers should not only enjoy teaching, but they
should enjoy learning as well. Teachers should hunger for knowledge
because that is something that they expect from their students. I think
that it is important for teachers to keep up with current practices in
education to prevent themselves from becoming stale and outdated. A
great way for teachers and other educators to stay up to date is by
attending workshops. I have attended a variety of workshops in my
pre-service careers, and I plan on continuing this in the future. So far, I
have attended AMSTI workshops, ARI workshops, and various other
workshops. I want to be a role model for my students; if I am asking
them to grow, then I want them to be able to see me grow as well.
I also believe that it is important for teachers to create an
atmosphere in their classrooms where students feel comfortable
enough to take risks. I think that a lot of students limit themselves
because they have a fear of failure. I want to encourage my students
to try new things even if they think that they will not be good at it.
There will be no learning without productive struggle. I want my
students to feel like my classroom is a risk-free environment where
they can feel safe.
Resources:
Brualdi, A. C. (1996). Multiple Intelligences: Gardner's Theory. ERIC Digest.
Nagel, N.G. (1996). Learning through Real-World Problem Solving: The Power of
abcdefgIntegrative Teaching. Corwin Press, Inc.
Rudham,R. (2001). A noisy classroom is a thinking classroom: speaking and listening in
abcdefgYear 7 history. Teaching History, 35.
