I thought that you might enjoy my two cents on education. Let me know what you think.
20 Days!
BearDown Arizona! U of A wins the College World Series!
Enjoy.
Through my two and
a half years of teaching and just living, life is able to grant perspective and
understanding. I can look back and see that I was going to teach at Mayer High
School. Now, as I embark on a new chapter in life I can look back and see what
teaching has done for my students and for me. Although my role as a full time
instructor is changed, the ideas and goals of my educational philosophy will
continue to influence how I live my life.
Prior
to student teaching I wrote “Things I Believe – Education.” I still believe in
education, students will have a greater opportunity to be successful if they
have a quality education. I teach students. Many times, as an educator, I have
been guilty of forgetting that I am here to teach students. We, as educators,
can let too many of the tacky, unimportant “stuff” get in the way of what
really matters, teaching students. Regardless of the career that you are in,
there will always be those same deterrents and frustrations hindering your ability
to properly accomplish the task at hand. From my perspective people who are
successful, cut away that red tape and focus on the end goal.
Students
want to be challenged. Each student has their own definition of success. As an educator, you are giving a student the
opportunity to succeed and find success. “To respect a person’s autonomy means,
according to the contemporary view, to respect him in his individual decisions
and courses of action. (Johannes Giesinger 6)” This idea of giving not just student but people respect in their
decisions is powerful. As a teacher you have an opportunity to help guide
success, by keeping this in mind, is easy to remember to keep students first.
Teaching
is a team effort. A new teacher is encouraged to see what works by observing other
teachers and their best practices. I am thankful for all the mentors that I have.
Many ideas and quality practices within teaching are shared. As I asked about
their teaching philosophies and beliefs, the concepts and ideas were all similar.
The following are some of those philosophies:
“…to provide students with the
opportunity for success.”
“Teaching is creating a positive
change in behavior.”
“Do what is right for kids /
students.”
“All students can learn.”
The core aspects of these
statements, is that you are teaching for students. All the other “stuff” really
does not matter. If you focus on the students and their ability for achievement,
positive things will happen.
These
statements also reflect another aspect of teaching. We need to keep it simple.
Education will always evolve and change, from government influence, to the next
teaching fad. If we are keeping things simple we can provide students with
opportunity.
Teaching
agricultural education provides other opportunities and ways for students to be
successful. My favorite moments have been taking students to FFA events.
Teaching students does not end when you leave the classroom. FFA, other CTSOs,
sports, and the arts are an extension of the classroom. In this classroom, you
get to use teachable moments, life experience, and challenges to prepare
students for something far greater than any standardized test. Life. This is
why I will always be a supporter of the FFA organization, it is a great aspect
to agricultural education. The FFA mission statement “… premier leadership,
personal growth, and career success…” Again this statement reflects two
previous ideas, simple and focused on student success.
In
addition to the FFA, teaching agricultural education gives students’ relevance.
All classes should include academics, when students see relevance, rigor will
come. Students will have a greater understanding of things when they can try
and do things; hands on and minds on. A greater way to create a cognitive
connection is the practical application. We need to understand there is not
only higher education but also hired education. All students can find success.
That success may be a different model than what we as educator are accustom to
seeing, but it is their success.
Keep
learning. “Research also demonstrates that positive changes occur in teachers’
practices when they experience sustained, high quality professional
development. (Margarete Kedzior, Introduction)” There are many people with more
experience in the world of education. Most of those people will share their
best practices with you. Many vocational education teachers have industry
knowledge and first-hand experience. They will share this wisdom and
experience. Structured professional development is another great way to keep
learning. Your own education as a teacher will provide you a greater way to
give opportunities for success.
Teaching
for the past two and half years has helped to establish what I do believe as a
teacher and what works. This is my education philosophy in five parts;
Students
first – Do not worry about the other, be there to teach students.
I believe in
education – There will always be students to teach.
Students
want a challenge – When you know that they can, request their best.
Teaching
is a team effort – Use every resource you can to put students first.
Keep
learning – It helps you to put students first.
References
Giesinger, Johannes. 2012 “Respect in Education” Journal
of the Philosophy of Education Society of
Great
Britain. Volume 46, Issue 1, pages 100–112, February 2012
Kedzior, Margarete M.S. “Teacher Professional
Development” Education Policy Brief.
VOLUME 15, MAY 2004
National FFA Organization, The FFA Mission Statement © 2012
