       
@2006 Annie Spencer
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Annie's Philosophy of Learning
Imagine being a four or five year old child, never away from your parents and suddenly dropped off at a strange place with people you don’t know. Sometimes these children don’t know how to communicate in the English language. We can only imagine how frightening it is for them. I have seen this happen in my classroom and it breaks my heart. My philosophy of learning draws upon my life experiences. As a child I remember being dropped off for Sunday school crying because I was shy and scared. Throughout my educational years I remember several teachers having different teaching styles that held the students interest. Students in our schools today represent a diverse population that my having lived overseas in several countries has broadened my understanding of the various cultures represented in our classrooms. My volunteering in my daughters’ classrooms and in the Girl Scouts brought me personal satisfaction. I grew up with laughter in my house and I believe that also plays a part in my philosophy. I will attempt to expand upon my life experience as I write about my philosophy of learning. One of the barriers to effective learning is the inability of some students to comprehend the English language. Currently the English as a Second Language Program has been effective for all the grade levels except Kindergarten because it is not offered to them. I truly believe it should be available for the Kindergarten level as well. It would alleviate a lot of the anxiety for the English non-speaking children. When they are able to communicate with someone in the classroom in their own language, the learning process takes place quickly. Without an interpreter the student will fall behind in class. By not knowing what is being said they tend to distract the other students during instructional time. There are over one hundred countries represented in my school. We celebrate the diversity by holding a multicultural night. The students are proud of their heritage and willing to share it with you. My many travels overseas have made me appreciate such diversity and have given me the importance of one’s culture in my philosophy of learning. Teachers today can not be limited to one style of teaching. When I went to school we were book taught, no hands on activities, and sometimes we watched a film on a reel to reel projector. I had a couple of teachers break the monotony of book learning; one teacher told true stories which were interesting facts and another teacher told about his life in Uganda. They both brought laughter into the classroom and they knew how to get us back on track. Technology today makes classroom instruction more interesting and allows for several different ways to teach a concept. There are also more hands on activities. This is so important for the young Kindergarten students. They are at a touchy, feely stage in their growth. We now know that today the students learn by different methods. I would incorporate computers, music, art, games, stories, hands on activities and my favorite, which is role playing (to bring laughter) into my philosophy of learning. I believe in order for a student to be successful in learning, it is critical that they receive the help of their parents and family. Volunteerism is a major factor in my philosophy of learning and one way to help your child be successful. I was actively involved in my daughters’ lives when they were young. I volunteered in their classrooms and outside activities. Being in their classroom helped me to know what was being taught and how. I welcome parents into my classroom to help with field trips, read stories, and help at a center or by providing one on one tutoring. There is no greater reward than watching a child’s face light up when they accomplish a task. My philosophy of learning was molded from my life experiences. Young children are more at ease in the classroom when they are able to communicate in the English language. I believe you need to incorporate the various cultures represented by your students into your lessons. By varying your teaching style and using all available new technologies you will hold the students interests. The use of hands on activities for the lower grades is also critical. Don’t be afraid to have laughter in the classroom, it keeps everyone young at heart. The students’ parents are a valuable resource. Let the parents volunteer in the classroom by being readers, tutors, helpers or chaperones. I believe my philosophy of learning will help my students succeed in their education and be very rewarding to me and their parents. View my Reflection of ITEC501 paper. |
