Philosophy Statement

Rosa Lee Coley
Philosophy on Education I was inspired to teach from a bad experience I had when I was in elementary school. I was in the fourth grade and had a teacher that was very unfair to her students. We never played any learning games or activities. She was very as they say "old-school". She never smiled, never greeted us at the door, and we sat at our desk until it was recess time. It was always come in, sit down and do your work. This inspired me because I did not want to be like her and I wanted to make a change in a child's life, not make him/her feel inadequate. I wanted to teach children that they can have fun while they learned. In my heart I have always wanted to teach. I believe that there are three ingredients to learning. All children can learn, children should be respected as people, and children are children and should be treated that way. I believe that children are able to learn regardless of their race, religion, social status and the environment around them. With a little patience and kindness you can teach a child almost anything. Respect is something that is earned. I believe that if you show children the respect that they deserve they will respect you in return. My goal as an educator is to help children learn in a safe, healthy, nurturing and structured environment. I think that children learn best when there are clear and concise rules and when they are able to participate in their learning. During my teaching experience, I find that children learn with different learning styles. Multiple intelligences play a big role in their learning. I believe that learner-oriented teaching promotes learning that is both purposeful and enduring. As an educator, it is my responsibility to know who my learners are, what kinds of knowledge and experience they bring to the class, so that I can tailor a curriculum that fits their needs and yet leaves enough room to accommodate topics that emerge from group discussions. I embrace