The Philosophy of my Environment
by David Crewes 7/25/12
An educational philosophy is the backbone to each and every educator. As soon as a philosophy can be fitted to a classroom, a teaching environment emerges. My environment is is filled with laughter, comfort, inquiry, and respect. Where the desire to learn results from the questions we ask, and the interactive tools we use to fuel that environment. I am responsible for that environment, and I promise to make it the most rewarding I possibly can. I will not treat my students as if I am above them. I am neither sage nor seer. Merely a more worldly guide with much to share as we all travel through this thing called education. I am comrade, friend, listener and leader. I must also remember that I am a role model as well. Do as I say and as I do. Life is not easy. But together we will succeed and have a little fun on the side.
I strive for each one of my students to be excellent, and they know that I will do all that I can to make sure they reach that excellence. Their success is not dependent on what I can do for them, it is what they can do for themselves. In life, we live by the choices we make and the consequences that follow. If the environment that surrounds you is not to your liking, than make the choices to change that environment. That can be a difficult thing to do, and it is not true for all situations, but I will be there to guide, support, and teach.
I will not demand attention from my environment. My students will volunteer their attention through mutual respect, compassion and anticipation. Anticipation for the next anecdote, the next random activity or conversation to tie to learning, or the the next sweet piece of technology that we can all share together. I've come to realize how important sharing and differentiation can be in the classroom. I will continue to use these tools together with technology to make sure my environment is fulled with laughter, humor, learning and respect.
I know that this may be one of many philosophies I have in my classroom over the next 20 years, and I can accept that. I also know that the learning tools and the strategies of teaching may also change drastically over those years. However those things may change, one thing will be certain: I will never stop trying to teach, engage, advise and laugh.
An educational philosophy is the backbone to each and every educator. As soon as a philosophy can be fitted to a classroom, a teaching environment emerges. My environment is is filled with laughter, comfort, inquiry, and respect. Where the desire to learn results from the questions we ask, and the interactive tools we use to fuel that environment. I am responsible for that environment, and I promise to make it the most rewarding I possibly can. I will not treat my students as if I am above them. I am neither sage nor seer. Merely a more worldly guide with much to share as we all travel through this thing called education. I am comrade, friend, listener and leader. I must also remember that I am a role model as well. Do as I say and as I do. Life is not easy. But together we will succeed and have a little fun on the side.
I strive for each one of my students to be excellent, and they know that I will do all that I can to make sure they reach that excellence. Their success is not dependent on what I can do for them, it is what they can do for themselves. In life, we live by the choices we make and the consequences that follow. If the environment that surrounds you is not to your liking, than make the choices to change that environment. That can be a difficult thing to do, and it is not true for all situations, but I will be there to guide, support, and teach.
I will not demand attention from my environment. My students will volunteer their attention through mutual respect, compassion and anticipation. Anticipation for the next anecdote, the next random activity or conversation to tie to learning, or the the next sweet piece of technology that we can all share together. I've come to realize how important sharing and differentiation can be in the classroom. I will continue to use these tools together with technology to make sure my environment is fulled with laughter, humor, learning and respect.
I know that this may be one of many philosophies I have in my classroom over the next 20 years, and I can accept that. I also know that the learning tools and the strategies of teaching may also change drastically over those years. However those things may change, one thing will be certain: I will never stop trying to teach, engage, advise and laugh.
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