Educational Philosophy
“Educational success should be measured by how strong your desire is to keep learning”
alfie kohn (Schaft)
This quote speaks to how to I will be as a teacher within the classroom. I have always had mixed feelings on the assessment piece that happens within the classroom and this quote responds to how I will implement assessment for my students. My biggest goal for my students is that they exit my classroom as their best selves.
To me, this quote means that no matter what grades are being achieved and the successfulness in the classroom, the most important part is that students are enjoying the learning process and have the desire to continue the learning. “…Enjoyment creates a community, but it also evokes positive memories and make[s] them stronger” (Hernik & Jaworska 2018). Having a desire in the classroom allows students to come closer together and learn more effectively. If I am teaching my students with their best selves in mind, then the students should have desire to keep learning within the classroom as well as outside of the classroom.
Students should always be engaged and be able to take part in the learning process. I want my students to connect to what they are learning and connect the learning to their interests and their own personal lives. By doing this, the students should continue to have those desires to continue their learning because they are enjoying the process and feel connected to the lessons.
My job for students is to bring joy into the classroom and get the students learning. If the students do not have a desire to learn what I am teaching then I need to change my approach and relate the lessons to the students and give them a part in the learning process to ensure that all my students are enjoying it. The assessment can be both formative and summative while also implementing an enjoyment of the learning process through personal reflections and having a connection to self.
Hernik, J., & Jaworska, E. (2018) The Effect of Enjoyment on Learning. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323897499_THE_EFFECT_OF_ENJOYMENT_ON_LEARNING. Schaft, G. (n.d.). Philosophy of Education & Quotes. Glenn Schaft. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://www.glennschaft.com/philosophy-of-education.
Inclusion Statement
In my classroom, my main focus will remain on all of my students feeling welcome and like they belong within the class and among all of their classmates. My students will be able to express themselves and have their thoughts, feelings, and ideas shared and valued. We will have open and honest dialogues and welcome all different and diverse perspectives. Students will be given opportunities to share their true identities and self-expression. We are all worthy and will make sure to always respect and value each other’s identities and diverse backgrounds.
My classroom will represent a respectful, welcoming, and inclusive environment. We will honour and respect all similarities and differences in the classroom. All students are welcome no matter their ability, religion, gender, race, or sexual orientation. Students will feel seen and represented within the classroom through the curriculum, literature, visuals, and classroom discussions. The lessons and literature taught and offered in the classroom will focus on the ideas and ways of knowing through different cultures as well as Indigenous perspectives. Students will be taught lessons through the idea of mirrors (students being able to see themselves) and windows (students looking in to and learning about the lives of others).
Being an Indigenous teacher, I plan to be a role model for my students and focus on the aspects of decolonization and Indigenization. The TRC Calls to Action will be enforced within my classroom and students will recognize the roles of decolonization through the lessons they are being taught.
Students will be met where they are at and can expect to remain comfortable and engaged during all lessons and activities while also showing their knowledge and mastery of subjects in a way that works best for them. Students will have autonomy in their learning and feel respected and understood during assessment and activities.
The role of student learning, belonging, inclusion, and equity are the most important aspects to my classroom and with my students.