If I were to choose from the list of educational philosophies in our textbook and label myself accordingly, I would say that I am a blend of Existentialism and Humanism; I think the purpose of education is to not only aid students in becoming more independent thinkers and individuals, but also to aid them in their path of self-discovery and self-actualization so that they may improve themselves and rise to their full potential. I believe the purpose of education is for children to broaden their scope in life�to have exposure to different people and ideas, to experience different cultures, belief systems, and attitudes. I think this exposure for children is integral in not only their socialization process so that they become better local, national, and global citizens, but this exposure can ultimately fight the ugly monsters of racism, intolerance, and bigotry. I do not believe that every child who goes through the school system actually achieves these goals, but I think, ideally, this is the ultimate challenge of education.

Education also teaches us to communicate with each other intelligently and rationally so that we can better defend or support a position or idea, which could be an important element in future careers. Education enhances the mind, the mental processes of critical and analytical thinking, which are important in so many areas of life. Education and learning about a variety of subjects can open doors to children; they expose them to things they may have never heard of before, but things which may ignite not only an interest, but a passion to pursue a particular pathway in life.

I believe that children learn in a variety of ways, naturally, depending upon each child�s experiences and background. Generally speaking, however, I think children learn best with a hands on approach. Because their attention spans tend to be of shorter duration than adults, children need interesting activities, and, as often as possible, classroom activities that allow them the freedom to move around. One of the best examples I can think of to describe this is in an education video I recently watched. A few chairs were lined up to represent the linear structure of a sentence. A child was called on and given a piece of paper with a word written on it. The child then sat in the appropriate chair place that corresponded with the placement of the word in the sentence. Sure, the physical activity was minimal, but it was enough to help manage the more antsy students.

Children are active and full of energy. Therefore they need lessons and activities that play into that energy level. College students can hardly stand to sit through one solid hour of straight lecture and note taking, so I cannot expect a second-grader to listen to lecture, or grasp the concepts therein. The lessons and assignments need to engage their attention and need to use as much active energy as possible within the classroom setting. Also, children love to play, so I believe the lessons should teach through play, cater to their interests, and relate to their lives.

The teacher�s role in the classroom is, of course, a very important one. The teacher, I believe, is a guide, a mentor to the student. I do not like, and I think children would not like, a dictatorial or authoritative teacher; that type of teacher makes the classroom atmosphere suffocating, stifling. Under such leadership, some children would be too intimidated to participate in active learning, such as asking and answering questions; or some children, under such leadership would become more rebellious and indignant.

The issue of the teacher�s role directly relates to the children�s learning. I would choose to be the guide and mentor, therefore, my classroom would be a democratic system. The children would be allowed some control and involvement in making the rules, consequences for breaking those rules, deciding on assignment deadlines and test materials, just to name a few. I would want children to have the freedom to think for themselves, and the freedom to ask and answer questions without feeling �stupid.� I want to give each of my students the opportunity for self-expression in a non-threatening, respectful atmosphere. For the most part, I would need to model the type of behavior that I expect from the students. If I yell or scream or slam a book in anger then I shouldn�t be surprised if the children learned to react in the same manner. I must learn to deal with my emotions in an appropriate manner, which will show the students how they can deal with their emotions.

As a teacher, my role in the classroom would of course extend to the school as a whole. I would associate with fellow teachers and administrators in a professional, democratic fashion, and would expect the same treatment in return. I would support and participate in as many after school programs as possible. However, I must be honest and say that I cannot and will not try to do it all. I will have a family and children (someday) of my own at home; this would be my priority. But if I could participate in even one after school program to help disadvantaged, at-risk, or special needs children then I would be going beyond the call of duty. I would give to the children, and bestow upon myself a bounty of spiritual rewards.

In the community, I would need to be a role model to children. I don�t smoke, drink or do drugs, and it would be wise for anyone who does these things to at least not be caught doing them in public where a parent or student might witness it. I would have to avoid even minor legal infringements, such as speeding tickets or other such traffic violations. My behavior in the public eye and toward the parents in conferences will represent my behavior in the classroom. Teachers, I believe, should try to be leaders in their communities by having at least one community organization with which they work; it might be a local church, crisis center, or charity center. Since I wouldn�t have the time to work in every organization, I personally would opt to work with my church or its college campus affiliates in some manner. I like to do mission work, so I hope that my future career will allow me the time to work for the church in this area. If not, then maybe I could teach a Sunday school class or work with a youth group. The opportunities for community work are endless.

One of my favorite teaching strategies is integrative studies. I love the idea of picking a topic then tying in information from every possible subject. Integrating subject matter brings so much knowledge and information together, so that the material becomes meaningful. For instance, I could do a unit on Thanksgiving that would include every one of our subjects in the classroom. I pick Thanksgiving because it�s relevant to the majority of the students� lives; but this would also be a great time to explore some other cultures that do not celebrate Thanksgiving�perhaps there are other holidays that coincide with the same time frame as Thanksgiving. We could learn about the history of the holiday through storybooks, writing activities, and play-acting, which includes English grammar and mechanics usage. We could explore science by learning about how we digest all that food we eat. We could explore the arts through music, songs, and drawings. We could even make up math problems that deal with the holiday theme. Naturally, I believe in making the lesson as fun and interesting for the students as possible, so if that means having to dress up as a pilgrim then so be it.

I believe that lessons and assignments should relate to the children�s lives and show them real-world problems and solutions. For instance, history can be difficult for many children because they can�t imagine what life was like in the 1400s or the 1500s, so it�s important to do everything to show them how life back then was different than life is now. This could obviously be done by just a simple compare and contrast. But I think the comparison should also have a visual tool of some sort. If time and other resources allow, why not recreate a scene from a particular time period? Why not dress in the costume of the day? Why not act out important events? I think if the children can participate in history then the information is more likely to stick with them. Math is another subject that should be relative to the students� lives. Show them how to balance a checkbook. Show them how to add sales taxes. I would want to show them �real life� math whenever I could, along with the math they�ll �never use in real life.�

Also, since I have a degree in English literature and writing, I�m biased in this area. I think reading, writing, speaking�the use of language in all its forms�is how we are able to explore and find out about our world, so it should be the staple of education. Every subject should be immersed in it�even math. Obviously, I�m a huge fan of portfolios and writing workshops, and intend to use these in my classroom. I also would use all the other arts as much as possible in the classroom, since they are the essence of self-expression, and I believe that everyone at some level has the desire to express his or her self, and children are no different. The arts are important because they tap into the expressive core that may be stifled in the children when they are outside of the classroom; the arts allow them to show their individuality.

Overall, I want my classroom to be a place of learning and having fun. I want it to be a safe place for children to express their thoughts and ideas. I want my students to feel respected and appreciated, not only by me, but by their classmates. I want my classroom to have a democratic, mellow atmosphere�an atmosphere that is non-threatening and caters to free thought and individualism.