philosophy paper

Personal Philosophy of Education
I believe that the best practices in early childhood education include children’s ideas, parent’s values and teacher’s suggestions. All of these will benefit children’s learning as well as give them a good understanding of the environment around them. Teachers should be flexible with the daily schedule and open to different learning opportunities. This way, children will have less structured time and more opportunities to explore and learn. As I observe in some of the childcare centers, children do not have enough time to play or finish their investigation and projects. They are hurried to be putting their toys away, and this does not benefit their learning. Teachers should encourage children to explore and investigate the topic further. The center’s policies should exclude time outs, as it does not improve children’s behavior, but rather stimulates him to get more attention. Teachers should encourage children to solve problems, and help them out if they see that serious issue occurs. Also, the physical environment has a big impact on best practices too. It should be filled with warm colors and feel like home to children. If the children will feel like at home, they will feel safe, which will benefit their learning.
I believe that young children learn best through exploration and hands on experience. They should be encouraged to discuss and socialize with other children. Children should be interested in the learning topic, and teacher’s need to plan their activities accordingly. I believe that the activity should involve more than three domains; this way the learning will benefit as well as the child will learn to multitask. I believe that all of the learning should be child-initiated and teacher supported. Children need to also use some open-ended material which will develop their imagination. Children learn each minute that they are awake, so teachers just need to provide a clean, safe environment with a lot of useful materials which can be explored.
The role of educators has a big impact on children’s lives because they spend more time at the child care center than with their families. Teachers teach children, role model and manage their behaviors, and all of these help children to grow and develop. Teachers have to provide children with different learning opportunities to develop their domains and strengths. Teachers guide children through learning as well as give them chances to explore and investigate. Teachers not only promote children’s development but also help them to learn about themselves, as well as others. Teachers also teach children some basic morals and provide them with opportunities to practice them.
Working as a team will benefit children’s learning also. Many teachers can share their thoughts and ideas, and come up with the best way of teaching and learning. Also, children observe how others communicate and this can be the best role model for them. Working in a group also helps to promote the best environment for children, as well as help them to develop their strengths and weaknesses. Teachers can discuss their concerns together and think for the future goals and actions. One teacher might see a concern in a child’s physical domain, and prepare an activity to enhance it. When sharing this activity with the co-worker, she can add some of the new ideas and make the activity more interesting as well as challenging. Working in a group will also benefit children’s learning by feeling that they are safe and everyone is friendly around them. This is very important for toddlers, as they develop their second stage of trust versus mistrust. The friendly environment will help them achieve the stage and move to the next one.
I believe that an educator is anyone or anything that teaches a lesson. Some people refer to this word, as a teacher, and others will simply think of a person who knows more than them. I believe the education can be anything in the world, and an educator is someone who can teach, but also learn. An educator teaches someone new material, morals or gives answers to arisen questions. I want to share my knowledge with others, but also learn from them. I believe that we learn every second when we are awake. While working with children, I realized that I learned to be patient, understanding, respectful and much more. Each day I learn something new, either about the world around me or about myself. I am very interested in teaching and learning, because one cannot be without another one. It is very important for every educator to understand that and become better with each day.
I have much strength to be a good educator. I am open to new learning as well as child-initiated experiences. I provide children with age appropriate activities which enhance all of the domains. I am kind, helpful, understanding and I love to watch children learn. I also love to see how they start to discuss a topic, and then investigate it further. When planning my activities, I observe children’s interests as well as their knowledge about the topic. I try to make many webs and have a lot of discussions going on. I enjoy spending my time with children, and I take this opportunity not as working, but rather as learning. I enjoy listening to their stories, and responding to them. I think I provide children with a warm environment where they feel important and safe. I give every child a choice and a chance. I believe that if all of the educators would respect children equally as adults, it would be more use for them, and the learning will always go on.
For me, as an educator, the big importance is respect. I would like every educator to be respectful and understanding of all of the children’s needs, concerns and weaknesses. Teachers should observe children and plan the activities according to their needs. It is very important to help children learn by providing age-appropriate activities which enhance all of the domains. Also, it is very important to encourage parents to participate in children’s learning. Teachers should provide parents with information about children’s day; their drawings, plans and interests. Also, I think that outside play has an important part in children’s development too. They learn through open-ended materials while being physically active. I believe that it is very important for each educator to love their jobs and enjoy every minute which is spent with children.

Folk Pedagogy
I was raised in the family of teachers, and since I was a child, I knew that I wanted to become a teacher. My grandmother spent a lot of time reading books to me, and discussing hem after. By the age of four, I knew a lot of poems and fairy tales. While discussing these reading, I learned lots of morals and ways to solve problems. My imagination helped me to be very creative after, in my future life. My mother always taught me some lessons, such as Russian and math. She did not do it directly, she taught me through games, stories and some other toys. I remember that I was always waiting for my mother to come and pick me up from my grandmother’s house to go home and play with her. Since a child I was very interested in learning, and as I saw my mother teaching me, I did the same thing with my toys. I used to put them at the table and made activities to teach them something. When I grew up, I attended my mother’s classes and observed many educational approaches. She is very firm, but a very respectful and understanding educator. She listens to her students as well as incorporates their ideas into her teaching and planning. My grandmother was a very funny and outgoing teacher. All of her lessons were interactive, and in which I actually learned some of the materials. Now, I understand that she tried to encourage everyone to participate to check their understanding of the topic. It is very important to engage all of the children in the participation. This is why I believe that I should plan my activities according to children’s interests, like my mother, and make all of the experiences interactive, like my grandmother. I believe that two of these methods will really benefit me as a teacher, and give more opportunities for children to learn from.
During my school years and my personal experience, I came up with the decision that I will never make the child feel uncomfortable or ashamed of his or her mistake. I felt very uncomfortable when teacher’s waited for my responds for more than five minutes, even though they knew that I did not know the answer. I also hated when they pointed at me, or said something like, “Look what she did!” I felt very embarrassed at these moments. So, because of these experiences I want all children to feel very safe and important. I would never stand if some other teacher’s would make fun of a child or embarrass him in front of others. I think that from one side it is very good that I experienced these situations, so I know how it feels, and I would never put a child in this situation.
During my studies at Seneca College, I learned a lot about some theories and theorists; with some of them I agreed, with others I not only disagree agree, but moreover, will do the opposite of them. As I learned about different approaches, I saw that one of them did not include children’s drawings on the walls or books. I would really try to do everything to prevent this type of approaches in my practice. Also, during my placements, I observed how teachers and other staff teach children. I can say that I learned a lot of positive experience as well as negative. I learned how to manage children’s behaviour in a nice way, instead of screaming at him or giving time outs. I also learned how to set up activities attractively and invite children to join. I became very confident in guiding children while solving problems and helping them to develop their skills. Also, as I was sitting in some of my classes, I observed my professors. I think that I am not very different from children, and I really liked when professor had discussion and were interactive with the class. When some of them were reading lectures from the power points and asked us while presenting not to look at them, it seemed really wrong. This is why I believe when asking children to do something, like not sitting on the table; the teacher should demonstrate it too.
All of these situations which occurred throughout my life, made me realize how I want to teach. I made some decision of what I will never do, and the same thing for what I will always do. I think it is very important for every teacher to reflect upon her experiences and make each of her lessons unique and important for the children.
Four Models of Early Childhood Education
Throughout my two years of studies at Seneca College I learned many different approaches. My personal philosophy is based on my personal experience, as well as, some combinations of best practices of some approaches.
The first approach which I want to write about is Montessori Approach. It focuses on freedom, independence, nature and social studies. (The International Montessori Index) I like that children can choose their activities and they have no time limit on them. They can explore and learn from these materials. My philosophy includes this method too. I would want children to play with certain activity and expand on it. I do not want to stop them from learning because they will have the next class. In the Montessori method I do not really like that they have mixed age groups, like from three to six year old. I think that all children have different interests as well as age appropriate toys. So, if a three year old will take a material which belongs to six year old, he might not understand what it is used for, and he might not succeed in it. This way his self-esteem might go down, as well as he might not want to ever work with this material again.
The next approach which I will compare with my philosophy is Reggio Emilia Approach. It focuses on observation of children’s interest, and then planning all activities according to it. (What is Reggio Emilia?) I really like that children would be interested in learning. This is what my philosophy is based on too. I like that children’s interest is being looked at, and teachers plan accordingly, but sometimes not all of the children are interested in the specific topic. I think that this approach is really good for preschoolers and junior kindergarten. From my observations I think that senior kindergarten would not really want to use this approach. All of the children have different interests, and it would be really hard to come up with one major topic. This is why I would provide children with some basic activities according to their daily interests, and provide some other activities according to some of other children’s interest topic. Also, I cannot use this approach with infants or toddlers, so this is why I partly agree with it. I want my philosophy to go along with every age group and class.
The next approach which I will focus on is Waldorf Approach. It focuses on children’s imagination, freedom and sensory-based activities. (Waldorf Education in Canada) Children have no time limit at all and they are welcome to do what they want. I partially agree with this method, because I think that children need to have some time to explore and learn, but I think they should be guided through their learning, and still have some routine to follow. I believe they need to learn from younger years to follow some schedule, and it will benefit them later, as they practiced it already. I like that this approach uses a lot of imagination in it practices, but do young infants and toddlers need this imagination? I believe that imagination will have a positive effect from preschoolers and up, but again, this approach will not go with all of the age groups. I also disagree that the approach does not support children’s work; they do not post any drawings on walls or children’s investigations. I think it is very important for children to see their work and be proud that others can see it too. This way children’s self-esteem will rise.
The final approach which I would like to concentrate on more is Emergent Curriculum. I’ve been studying these approaches for two years, and I believe that it is the best approach which will go with my philosophy. It points out that teachers need to always observe children and write down their interests. (Emergent Curriculum) After, teachers need to provide activities according to children’s interests but also, so that different domains would be covered too. I believe that this is the best way for children to learn. While observing, the teacher sees child’s strengths and weaknesses and can base her activities to help the child improve those skills. This approach can be used with any age group and classroom. This method can be used not only in the childcares, but also in some other programs, such as dancing, singing and much more.
As I mentioned above I really agree with Emergent Curriculum, and I believe that it is the best practice to help children develop. Teachers do not feel overwhelmed while creating the activities and children would never feel bored, because their interest is being met. Also, it is very good that children are engaged in the planning, especially when the teacher sits down with them and writes down the web. These way children see that they can learn from each other and discuss everything as a group. If a child is not interested in certain activity he is not pushed to do it, rather teachers will try to come up with another activity in which this child would be more likely to participate in.
Philosophy of Education to Practice
While looking at my philosophy, I saw that it is very important to provide children with a lot of different materials, such as open-ended materials, toys and art supplies. This way children would initiate the learning, and teahcers will need to guide them through their experiences. I want to become a Priamary Junior Teacher, and I would use my philosophy in my classrooms. I would still go with the given curriculum, but I would make all of my lessons and activities enganing, encouraging and intereting for children. I would ask them some suggestions about how they want to learn and give them some freedom and choices. I would try to make them feel like at home, so they would me more comfortable with the environment. I would also use a lof of displays so children would feel special. I would still provide children with open-ended materials during art time so they can make their own drawing and use heir imagination, instead of me telling them what to do. I believe that my philosophy will be really good for children, and they will like their early learning. I do not want them to hate going to school, because every day they do the same thing. I will make them a part of planning, and encourage them to learn as much as I can.
I would like to show my ideal preschool room. There will be a lot of windows, and less light. The light will be used only if the weather is bad. Also, the walls will be in warm colors, such as yellow, light green, beige and white. I would put a lot of children’s work on the walls and write down their comments about the display. All of the materials will be put so the teachers could observe children from anywhere in the classroom. Even though in my drawing I could show that, because I have some devisions, but they will be very small. I separated the gross motor area and the quiet area, so children would not be overwhelmed. The warm environment will help children to feel safe, like at home, and open to learn. The social environement will be adapted to children and parent’s needs. I would encourage all parents to participate in some learnings, like sharing experiences and attending the trips.
My expectations of educators will be to create the best environment for children, not to scream, push, or any how abuse the child. I want all children to feel safe and welcoming. All teachers will need to plan thei activities daily, and discuss them with the children. When hiring I would look ta their ECE diploma, the registration with the College of Early Childhood Education, police check, health immunization form and references. I would also ask them questions about their personal philosophy, and if they agree or disagree with the center’s philosophy and policies. I would also expect the reflection paper at the end of each month, and I will sit down with the teachers and talk to them about children, what they achieved, what are the next goals and stategies for them. Also, teachers will have to do weekly planning, child’s folders, 4 times a year parents interviews, communicate with parents and provide me with any serious information about the child.
The expectations for children would be to wear comfortable clothing, without any loose things, because I am usually very scared when I see the scrafs and so on. I prefer the neck warmers which are not loose and can be worn outside during winter time. Also, their expectations would be ot help teachers plan the activities. Children could share their experiences, stories and things which they have to promote the further discussions and learning.
The expectations from parents will be to provide their children with comfortable clothing with no loose things. Also, I would ask them to share the informationa bout sleeping patters and the childs overall development some time during the year.
The curriculum plan will be to develop all of the domains accroding to the ELECT and according to the specific age groups. Each teacher will need to show at the end of the year that a child achieved all of the tasks, and can move to the next stage. I would base my childcare center on the Emergent Curriculum Approach and give out pamphlets to parents so they can refer to it.
References
(2012) Waldorf Education in Canada. Retrieved on April 1, 2012 from http://www.waldorf.ca/
(2012) Emergent Curriculum. Retrieved on April 1, 2012 from http://www.silvertonfamilies.org/SFLC%20Emergent%20Curriculum.pdf
(2012) The International Montessori Index. Retrieved on April 2, 2012 from http://www.montessori.edu/
(2012) What is Reggio Emilia? Retrieved on April 2, 2012 from http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Reggio_Emilia/

References: (2012) Waldorf Education in Canada. Retrieved on April 1, 2012 from http://www.waldorf.ca/ (2012) Emergent Curriculum. Retrieved on April 1, 2012 from http://www.silvertonfamilies.org/SFLC%20Emergent%20Curriculum.pdf (2012) The International Montessori Index. Retrieved on April 2, 2012 from http://www.montessori.edu/ (2012) What is Reggio Emilia? Retrieved on April 2, 2012 from http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Reggio_Emilia/