PHILOSOPHY

updated March 11, 2007

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The education of a child is much like putting patches together to create a beautiful quilt. The components that create a positive learning environment are similar to the design and production of a quilt. Each square in the patchwork quilt must be made using high quality fabrics and workmanship. The different patches of a quilt resemble the assorted teaching methods for diverse lessons, the curriculum components, the students of a heterogeneous classroom, and the adult caregivers as well as the community. The quilt patches remind me of the various abilities of students within a classroom of students with mixed skills. I believe students learn from each other and benefit from a diverse classroom population. Parents are the first teacher a child encounters. Therefore, teachers should embrace diversity and demonstrate to students that learning is a lifelong process. When parents and teachers work together to educate children, the seams of the quilt become stronger. This connects to core proposition #1 because it links the commitment of the teacher to the learning of the students by demonstrating the teacher understands that learning is a continuous process that must be nurtured. The purpose of education is to produce lifelong learners who will become productive citizens. These lifelong learners relate to a strong, useful quilt as academics should be intertwined with critical thinking and social skills. These should be taught through a variety of instructional methods which include cooperative learning, hands-on activities, and guided lessons. Whole group, small group and individual lessons should be planned in order to meet the needs of all learners. Core proposition #2 is evident to understand what to teach and how to teach it. Integrating the various instructional methods such as cooperative learning in the classroom has been a learning process for me since I am accustomed to teaching in a traditional format. I have learned that multiple intelligences help to build critical thinking skills and lifelong learners. It is necessary that the teachers and support staff work together to develop plans for all areas of the curriculum. I believe that the students benefit from the collaboration of teachers from various grade levels and subjects. In addition, parents and other community members should be encouraged to participate in various learning activities within both the classroom and the school. This belief relates to core proposition #5 since it establishes teachers as an integral part of the learning community. Young children can learn best in an educational environment that is child oriented. This environment should include a variety of learning methods that use developmentally appropriate techniques such as hands on and cooperative learning activities. The learning environment should be a place where the child feels welcome and comfortable. A child can be successful in educational endeavors when they feel comfortable and good about themselves and others. I believe that in order for children to learn, the mind should be challenged, the soul should be nurtured, the brain should be stimulated and the heart should be warm. This reminds me of the comfort felt when covered with a quilt that is made with love.