Your assignment is to write a philosophy of education that addresses each component of the scoring guide provided. Essential guiding questions are provided below.
1. What is the purpose of education? For society? For individuals?
2. What factors influence curriculum? Political? Social? Economic?
3. What are my personal goals as an educator? What lasting influence will I have
on my students?
4. Why and how must I consider the developmental stages of the learners I am
charged with teaching? What theorists influence my thought regarding the
developmental appropriateness of my teaching? Piaget? Erikson? Kohlberg?
What are the many ways in which students differ? (Gender, race/ethnicity,
learning styles) How do I accommodate for these differences?
5. What is the teacher’s role in the classroom? The student’s?
6. How is the curriculum determined? How do national standards influence
the curriculum? What other entities influence curriculum? (e.g., textbook
companies, programs, media, community resources)
7. How do I plan to grow professionally? What role will reflection have in my
development as a career teacher? How will I collaborate with others
(e.g., parents, colleagues, community agencies) to improve my teaching?