JOSELINE MANUEL-SANTOS, Ph.D.
Introduction
Philosophy is the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct (reference.com). It is an investigation of thought for further support one’s thinking.
For eighteen years in the field of education, I have acquired beliefs and ideas that support my teaching and these are presented in this paper.
Personal Philosophy of Education
“If you want to change the things around you, start from where you are.” This is my personal philosophy in life and it supports my ideology in teaching which is, “I myself, as a teacher will teach with whole heart, with all my strength to help each student to discover their potentials and enlighten their minds to the importance of their existence here on earth.” Every teacher is looking forward for the improvement of his/her students; it can only be attained if the teacher is an inspiring person for the students to be influenced.
Teacher-Student Relationship
Inspiring teachers produce inspired students. More of us need to get involved in working with our young people instead of being so quick to criticize. (Something to Smile About, Zig Ziglar, p.117). The youngsters are like clay that is molded through the environment surrounded them and teachers play the most important role in this part. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice” (Philippians 4:9). Every interaction in the classroom, teachers serve as models, in every action makes, directly or indirectly, teachers influence students. As educators, be very careful in everything that comes into mind, for thoughts become words; be very careful in everything that comes out from the mouth, for words become actions. Words have power, be careful what to say, it can make or break a person. Raymond S. Sanchez, in his interview in Quality teacher magazine says, “The quality of education and of students depends much on the quality of teachers. More than just being concerned about intellectual development, he believes that teachers must strive for the overall development of their students and of themselves.” A student development relies on the hand of the teacher, making a difference to the life of a student is a huge responsibility in each and every educator in the field. Teachers are therefore expected to build a strong character with moral values herself and inevitably help her students achieve the same thing.
How Students Learn
"The biggest mistake of past centuries in teaching has been to treat all children as if they were variants of the same individual, and thus to feel justified in teaching them the same subjects in the same ways." (Howard Gardner, 1994)
In a differentiated classroom, teachers begin where their students are, not where they feel she should be or as the curriculum dictates. Instructional methodologies vary and are adapted to meet the needs of individual and diverse learners.
To ensure effective teaching and learning, teachers need to link tightly three key elements of the curriculum: content, process, and product. By definition, differentiated instruction is consistently using a variety of instructional approaches to modify content, process, and/or products in response to learning readiness and the interests of academically diverse learners.
2. Process: describes activities designed to ensure that students use key skills to make sense of the content.
3. Product: vehicles through which students demonstrate and extend what they have learned as a result of a considerable segment of learning.
Who is to be educated?
I was inspired by St. Augustine’s philosophy on who is to be educated. According to him, education is a passion and a process of opening up the mind to ideas and critical thinking ("skeptical philosophy"). In that sense, all people, regardless of class should be given the opportunity to be educated. Certainly no elitist, not one to reserve his time and energy for those he considered worthy of a reply.
Preparing Education students in the best possible way for their future roles as teachers is very vital. It is then very important that the curriculum for teachers designed in such a way that it equips education students with substantial knowledge of subject content, expertise in executing teaching methodologies, and adequate exposure to and experience in actual teaching, all aimed at encouraging student learning (Quality Teacher, vol.8, no. 2, p.25).
After earning a degree in doctoral study, hopefully in five year time, I am planning to move to tertiary education to teach in the college of education where the future teachers are there. I believe that quality education entails quality teachers; quality teachers produce quality students. I believe that teacher entails to the performance of students. There are lots of strategies that can be used to cater the individual differences of students. What students are looking for is a teacher who can touch their lives through everyday delivery of the lesson. Much time must really be devoted in planning to make differentiated instruction inside the classroom.
I believe, in stepping a higher level of taking responsibility, I can make a difference in the quality of education for the future teacher of this country. My philosophy in life is:
“If you want to change the things around you, start from where you are.”
“If you want to change the things around you, start from where you are.”
If every teacher inside the classroom is developed not only professionally but also personally with spirituality, I know that we will develop quality and competent students who can help our developing country to move on to a progressive and sooner to a developed country.
-JM Santos
