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I believe the student should be the center of any teaching
philosophy. Each student is an individual that has the potential to
bring something unique and important to the world. My classroom is
student centered were individual differences will be recognized,
respected and celebrated. Because students learn at different paces
and different ways, I try to teach to each individual student's
needs. I believe in active learning. As a student I always found
that I learned more when I was engaged and when I could find
relevance in the lesson. Students need to be guided through lessons
so that they are thinking and questioning. An educator should be
the facilitator of knowledge not the sole source.
As an educator, I believe that it is my
responsibility to go beyond teaching the basic curriculum. Every
student needs to learn the curriculum but at the same time they need
to gain critical skills that they will need to succeed in life. I
agree with many of the themes that occur in progressivism. In my
classroom, I hope to foster critical thinking, problem-solving
skills and help students gain lifelong learning skills. When I
entered college I found myself and many of my peers unprepared for
the application of information. This was a large obstacle for me to
overcome and I hope to help my students gain this vital skill.
I think that all educators have to be
lifelong learners and be willing to adapt. A teacher has to be
reflective and self-critical in order to grow and progress. In the
field of science, the curriculum can change quickly. Because of
this rapid advancement in science and technology, a science teacher
must be prepared to continue learning while updating the
curriculum. This is the only way that the students will learn the
latest advancements in science. As a teacher, I will never stop
questioning information and techniques. Finding the answers to
questions is how we gain knowledge, especially in the field of
science.
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