My Philosophy of Education

(Imagine the large purple font on a Powerpoint. The yellow font is what was spoken.)

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Prov 22:6 (ESV)

I believe the purposes of education are to prepare the next generation. Education, by definition, means "to develop the knowledge, skill, or character of..." Those committing to a future in education should have a passion for 'training up a child the way he should go' Prov 22:6 (ESV). For the purposes of this presentation, I will discuss my philosophy as it would pertain to a 10th grade English class in a small southern town.

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Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance

Prov 1:5 (ESV)

Students do learn differently. Auditory, visual or tactile learners all require a common link for processing knowledge; lesson plans should be meaningful. As teachers, we should pay careful attention to the feedback each child provides us. If I were to present a Shakespearean drama to my 10th grade English class, I would pause often to apply the theatrics to a real-life situation. After a while, the students should be able to see past the flowery verse to gather the relevant information and actually visualize the play in front of them. Lesson plans must be meaningful and tangible and students must be able to relate to the information.

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Students should be taught the basics and taught them well. There is nothing new under the sun and everything builds on top of something else. In our society, we complicate things. We try to over-analyze and find a perfect fit for every abnormality. This causes us to lose sight of the bigger picture. I believe there is a high demand for simplicity and if we can teach our students to build on fundamental knowledge, I believe we will inspire them to continue as lifelong learners. Conquer the basics, then move forward.

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I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Phil 4:13 (ESV)

Students should be taught in a learning environment. As teachers, we should encourage open participation. I believe that every student has something valuable to bring to a discussion and the format of my classroom will be primarily discussion. I believe that every student should be able to relate their life experience with the curriculum. I believe positive and negative feedback to the students should always be critical and students should be encouraged to learn from each other. I believe this teaching method is essential to prepare this age group because it helps the children with social interaction. This shows the students that it is okay to disagree and they should be willing to listen to opposing viewpoints.

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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.

Psalms 111:10 (ESV)

As mentioned previously, I believe students learn best when the subject matter and the presentation of the subject matter is meaningful. It creates understanding.

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Now may the God of peace … equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight...

Heb 13:20-21 (ESV)

Teachers wear many hats. We are the source of knowledge, mentors, counselors and friends. We must enter the classroom every day with light spirits and firm beliefs and we must be consistent in our practice. We must equip each child with the tools necessary for character and intellectual growth. The rewards of teaching do not come on a daily basis and many days there will be struggles. We must have the passion to pursue because we might be the only Jesus those children see that day.