When creating my philosophy of education statement there are many aspects of education to consider. How will I instruct my students? What will my curriculum look like? How will my classroom be arranged? What will my role be as the teacher, and what are my students’ role? In this statement, all of these questions will be addressed. Keep in mind that my teaching area is Special Education, Adapted Curriculum, so the curriculum portion may look different than that of my peers. As a special educator, I can expect to work with students who are on the Autism Spectrum, have multiple disabilities, intellectual and/or severe disabilities. I will never be seen standing in front of a class lecturing students, rather I will be working one-on-one with my students guiding them through their education and implementing the most effective strategies that allow my students to receive the best education possible.
Teacher’s Role
My role as a teacher plays an integral part in the education my students receive. Working with students who have special needs or disabilities, it is imperative that I cater lessons to my students on an individual basis. It is my job to facilitate students’ learning through differentiated instruction. In addition to academic instruction, it will also be my responsibility to address other areas of concern, such as social skills, behavioral problems, life skills, etc. I will be responsible for creating behavior plans and utilizing effective behavior management strategies to aid my students’ learning. I must follow through with consequences so that problem behaviors will be corrected and no longer interfere with students’ learning. It is important for me, that my students are able to learn on their own, with me guiding them through instruction. I will never give my student’s the answer, I want to inspire them to rise to the challenge and generate their own ideas. I will ask probing questions and provide food for thought so that my students can gain a deeper understanding of the content being presented. It is also important that I provide opportunities for my students to learn on their own, in groups and outside the context of the school.
The relationships I build with students are one of my best strengths. I will love each of my students and accept them for who they are, but I will challenge them in every way possible. It is important that I have a quality relationship with my students because I want them to know and feel how much I care about them and want them to succeed. My students need to know that I will always be available to them and it is essential they feel at home in my classroom, where they have a safe place to be themselves and relax in times of stress. I want to have a fairly informal relationship with my students, yet I will still demand respect. I will show support in all areas of my students’ lives by going to their sporting events, or attending a Homecoming dinner, or viewing their art at an art show. It is also imperative that I learn about my students’ hobbies and interests so that I can incorporate them into my lesson plans, and make learning more fun and interesting to my students.
In addition to my relationship with my students, it is also necessary that I build a positive, trusting relationship with the parents of my students. I will have daily communication with the parents of my students through communication logs that are sent back and forth between home and school. In order for me to provide the best education for my students, it is important that I know about all aspects of my students lives, especially what goes on at home. For example, I could be working with a student (Fred) who recently has become noncompliant in the past week. Working with Fred, I have tried different strategies, but I still am not able to make a breakthrough. Through daily communication with parents, I can find out that this student has had relatives staying over the past week, and my student has not adjusted well and has been acting out since the guests’ arrival. Although this sort of information may not be useful for teachers in the general classroom, this piece of information could make all the difference in my instruction and interactions with Fred. With this new knowledge, I can talk to Fred about this situation and utilize effective strategies to help him deal with the change in his home environment.
It is also essential for me to have positive and collaborative relationships with my colleagues and school professionals. In an educational environment, it is important for all staff to have positive relationships with each other and it is especially important for special educators. Each of my students will have an IEP and I will come together with many other school personnel (general ed. Teachers, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, administrators, school psychologists, etc.) to create and implement a plan to get each student to where they need to be. If I am not able to work effectively with my peers, then my students’ will suffer and not receive an appropriate education that fits their needs.
Students’ Rights & Role in the Classroom
The role students’ play in their learning is an integral part of the education they receive. It is essential that students are active in their learning, more importantly it is essential that I provide my students with ample opportunities to take an active role in their education. My students’ job will be to learn and grow, and also to take responsibility for their actions. My students have the right to be themselves and know that they are people who matter. This is probably one of the most important aspects of my philosophy of education.
At the beginning of the school year it is important that I dedicate time to teach my students the rules of the classroom. I will have a short list of rules that are stated in a positive manner that will be displayed in my classroom in a location that is visible for all to see. If appropriate, I would like for my students to have jobs that they are responsible for. It is important for my students to be aware of how their actions impact the overall wellbeing of the classroom. I want my students to understand that my classroom is their classroom, and it is their space. I will work hard to ensure my classroom operates in a harmonic manner, and it is my students’ responsibility to do the same.
Curriculum
As a special educator, I will focus my instruction very much on the “back to basics” approach. The curriculum I present to my students will emphasize functional academics, life and social skills, vocational skills, recreational skills, and how to be a member of the community. If I have any students who access the general curriculum, I will provide appropriate instruction based on my students’ ability. One of my most important jobs is to prepare my students for life after public school. I want my students to enter the real world with functional skills that will allow them to be successful in their lives. It is essential for my students to be able to function in society and I will give them tools to do so.
Outside of the special education classroom, it is important for all learners to be able to communicate effectively with others, read and write, and be able to solve basic math skills. It is also important for students to understand our history so that they can learn from past mistakes, at the same time it is essential for students’ to become innovative thinkers and expand their scientific knowledge. I believe students should learn about the world and should be taught to question conventional thinking.
Instruction
I will provide individual instruction and when appropriate, I will require students to work with a partner, or in groups so that they can learn from each other. (This is especially appropriate when teaching social skills—pairing students with disabilities with students without disabilities so that they can model the behavior.) It will also be appropriate to provide options given for students to choose from when completing assignments that will be used for assessment purposes. This will allow my students to demonstrate their understanding of the material presented in a manner that utilizes their individual strengths.
I will motivate my students using a variety of methods. When necessary, I will provide token or tangible reinforcement to encourage them to complete their tasks. I will have a positive and enthusiastic attitude that will inspire my students. I will allow my students to take breaks when they need to and I will reinforce their positive behavior with praise and high interest activities.
Classroom Organization
The overall tone of my classroom should be a happy, warm, and comfortable environment. I want my classroom to be an open space for my students where they feel comfortable. I will have defined areas that are for productive work, while also having an area or two where my students can relax in a “safe” place. I want to have an area that would be appropriate for a circle time or classroom meeting, and also have a reading corner that students will be able to utilize during free time. Most special education classrooms I’ve seen have kitchen areas. This is where my students and I will work on small cooking projects together and they will be able to learn appropriate life skills.
In order to maintain an organized classroom, I will have rules in place for how my classroom should operate. Students will know when it acceptable to utilize certain features of the classroom (computers, kitchen, etc.). I will be consistent with my reinforcement of behaviors to eliminate any problems that will impact students’ learning. My students will be able to move freely about the classroom, as whole classroom instruction will not be a regular feature in my classroom.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I will dedicate myself to fulfilling all aspects of my philosophy of education. My students will be my number one priority and I will work hard to ensure they receive the best education possible and are prepared for life after school. My students will play an active role in their learning while I am beside them guiding them through the process. My instruction will be based on teaching students skills that are essential for life after schooling, and I will do this through one-on-one instruction, as well as combining individual and group work. I will always support my students in all areas of their lives and I will encourage them to achieve greatness.
Teacher’s Role
My role as a teacher plays an integral part in the education my students receive. Working with students who have special needs or disabilities, it is imperative that I cater lessons to my students on an individual basis. It is my job to facilitate students’ learning through differentiated instruction. In addition to academic instruction, it will also be my responsibility to address other areas of concern, such as social skills, behavioral problems, life skills, etc. I will be responsible for creating behavior plans and utilizing effective behavior management strategies to aid my students’ learning. I must follow through with consequences so that problem behaviors will be corrected and no longer interfere with students’ learning. It is important for me, that my students are able to learn on their own, with me guiding them through instruction. I will never give my student’s the answer, I want to inspire them to rise to the challenge and generate their own ideas. I will ask probing questions and provide food for thought so that my students can gain a deeper understanding of the content being presented. It is also important that I provide opportunities for my students to learn on their own, in groups and outside the context of the school.
The relationships I build with students are one of my best strengths. I will love each of my students and accept them for who they are, but I will challenge them in every way possible. It is important that I have a quality relationship with my students because I want them to know and feel how much I care about them and want them to succeed. My students need to know that I will always be available to them and it is essential they feel at home in my classroom, where they have a safe place to be themselves and relax in times of stress. I want to have a fairly informal relationship with my students, yet I will still demand respect. I will show support in all areas of my students’ lives by going to their sporting events, or attending a Homecoming dinner, or viewing their art at an art show. It is also imperative that I learn about my students’ hobbies and interests so that I can incorporate them into my lesson plans, and make learning more fun and interesting to my students.
In addition to my relationship with my students, it is also necessary that I build a positive, trusting relationship with the parents of my students. I will have daily communication with the parents of my students through communication logs that are sent back and forth between home and school. In order for me to provide the best education for my students, it is important that I know about all aspects of my students lives, especially what goes on at home. For example, I could be working with a student (Fred) who recently has become noncompliant in the past week. Working with Fred, I have tried different strategies, but I still am not able to make a breakthrough. Through daily communication with parents, I can find out that this student has had relatives staying over the past week, and my student has not adjusted well and has been acting out since the guests’ arrival. Although this sort of information may not be useful for teachers in the general classroom, this piece of information could make all the difference in my instruction and interactions with Fred. With this new knowledge, I can talk to Fred about this situation and utilize effective strategies to help him deal with the change in his home environment.
It is also essential for me to have positive and collaborative relationships with my colleagues and school professionals. In an educational environment, it is important for all staff to have positive relationships with each other and it is especially important for special educators. Each of my students will have an IEP and I will come together with many other school personnel (general ed. Teachers, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, administrators, school psychologists, etc.) to create and implement a plan to get each student to where they need to be. If I am not able to work effectively with my peers, then my students’ will suffer and not receive an appropriate education that fits their needs.
Students’ Rights & Role in the Classroom
The role students’ play in their learning is an integral part of the education they receive. It is essential that students are active in their learning, more importantly it is essential that I provide my students with ample opportunities to take an active role in their education. My students’ job will be to learn and grow, and also to take responsibility for their actions. My students have the right to be themselves and know that they are people who matter. This is probably one of the most important aspects of my philosophy of education.
At the beginning of the school year it is important that I dedicate time to teach my students the rules of the classroom. I will have a short list of rules that are stated in a positive manner that will be displayed in my classroom in a location that is visible for all to see. If appropriate, I would like for my students to have jobs that they are responsible for. It is important for my students to be aware of how their actions impact the overall wellbeing of the classroom. I want my students to understand that my classroom is their classroom, and it is their space. I will work hard to ensure my classroom operates in a harmonic manner, and it is my students’ responsibility to do the same.
Curriculum
As a special educator, I will focus my instruction very much on the “back to basics” approach. The curriculum I present to my students will emphasize functional academics, life and social skills, vocational skills, recreational skills, and how to be a member of the community. If I have any students who access the general curriculum, I will provide appropriate instruction based on my students’ ability. One of my most important jobs is to prepare my students for life after public school. I want my students to enter the real world with functional skills that will allow them to be successful in their lives. It is essential for my students to be able to function in society and I will give them tools to do so.
Outside of the special education classroom, it is important for all learners to be able to communicate effectively with others, read and write, and be able to solve basic math skills. It is also important for students to understand our history so that they can learn from past mistakes, at the same time it is essential for students’ to become innovative thinkers and expand their scientific knowledge. I believe students should learn about the world and should be taught to question conventional thinking.
Instruction
I will provide individual instruction and when appropriate, I will require students to work with a partner, or in groups so that they can learn from each other. (This is especially appropriate when teaching social skills—pairing students with disabilities with students without disabilities so that they can model the behavior.) It will also be appropriate to provide options given for students to choose from when completing assignments that will be used for assessment purposes. This will allow my students to demonstrate their understanding of the material presented in a manner that utilizes their individual strengths.
I will motivate my students using a variety of methods. When necessary, I will provide token or tangible reinforcement to encourage them to complete their tasks. I will have a positive and enthusiastic attitude that will inspire my students. I will allow my students to take breaks when they need to and I will reinforce their positive behavior with praise and high interest activities.
Classroom Organization
The overall tone of my classroom should be a happy, warm, and comfortable environment. I want my classroom to be an open space for my students where they feel comfortable. I will have defined areas that are for productive work, while also having an area or two where my students can relax in a “safe” place. I want to have an area that would be appropriate for a circle time or classroom meeting, and also have a reading corner that students will be able to utilize during free time. Most special education classrooms I’ve seen have kitchen areas. This is where my students and I will work on small cooking projects together and they will be able to learn appropriate life skills.
In order to maintain an organized classroom, I will have rules in place for how my classroom should operate. Students will know when it acceptable to utilize certain features of the classroom (computers, kitchen, etc.). I will be consistent with my reinforcement of behaviors to eliminate any problems that will impact students’ learning. My students will be able to move freely about the classroom, as whole classroom instruction will not be a regular feature in my classroom.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I will dedicate myself to fulfilling all aspects of my philosophy of education. My students will be my number one priority and I will work hard to ensure they receive the best education possible and are prepared for life after school. My students will play an active role in their learning while I am beside them guiding them through the process. My instruction will be based on teaching students skills that are essential for life after schooling, and I will do this through one-on-one instruction, as well as combining individual and group work. I will always support my students in all areas of their lives and I will encourage them to achieve greatness.