My Philosophy of Education Essay -- Essays Papers

My Philosophy of Education "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." -Albert Einstein The foundation for my philosophy of teaching is very simple. I believe that if I am bored, the students are bored. I structure my teaching methods and strategies towards grasping not only the interests of my students but of myself as well. This enables my students to take away a positive experience from the learning process. Many times students enter my classroom with the attitude that English is a tedious and boring subject. I feel it is my duty as an English teacher to remove this negative point of view by creating a positive learning environment. This environment should awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge in the areas of language and literature. I also believe that the teacher is an artist. This artist produces inspiration in students to question, to develop their own ideas, and to express themselves. This enables the student to become more enthusiastic about learning in the English classroom and learning throughout life. Literature should be used to help students create contexts and meanings for themselves. Close examinations of literature enable students to think critically about literature itself, as well as their own lives and decisions. Literature in the classroom should contain a variety of genres, authors, and cultures to engage students in looking at the world and their lives from different perspectives. Teaching grammar should fit within the literature being read and the works being composed, with connections to student work. It should be approached functionally, deriving its meaning and relevance from the classroom context. As a teacher, o... ...is created. It is important for educators to provide students with the keys to success. The curriculum is simply a strategy to facilitate the knowledge that will lead to success. It should provide the students with a broad foundation of skills and knowledge that will guide them throughout their lives. The language arts curriculum should be centered on text and subjects that encourage students to think and make informed decisions. Ultimately, the curriculum should be used to help students understand themselves and to see the possibilities in the world around them. If the teacher is indeed an artist and the student his or her work of art, the curriculum is the tool that enables the production of a masterpiece. References National Council of Teachers of English. (2003). Secondary Home Page. Retrieved January 21, 2003, from http://www.ncte.org/second/