My Philosophy of Education

Jean Piaget: founder of Constructivism

Students have been taught in a very similar, ineffectual method for some time. The establishment of a formal curriculum only succumbs to a teaching method that is outdated and leads to student burnout due to a lack of interest and personal motivation to learn. To promote the best learning environment possible it is important to help students establish their own desire to learn. School should not be boring. School should provide an opportunity for kids to express their own ideas and opinions in a student-centered collaborative environment. Many teachers today establish themselves as a classroom dictator, however students respond better to an environment in which they have some control over what is going on. This is not to say teachers should not play any role in the classroom; teachers need to be active in directing students in a way that allows them to learn on their own. By engaging students with meaningful and purposeful instruction, it promotes intrinsic motivation, which over time will advance their ability to think critically, and become motivated members of society.

While using curriculum to try to transform students into motivated members of society, it is imperative to also teach about our past. With an understanding of their history, traditions and symbols, coupled with the intrinsic motivation of student centered learning, we can promote a self-motivated desire to learn. Providing meaningful instruction is imperative to teach social studies concepts. According to Sunal and Haas, (2011) this is practiced “when teachers intentionally select what to teach, and students grasp the knowledge and skills taught” (p. 8). By establishing clear goals, and making a plan for what is to be taught, students can have a more meaningful experience in developing social studies concepts.

In order for a teacher to reach his/her students, it is important to foster an engaging environment. One effective way to engage students is to offer a challenging, yet appropriate level of instruction. To do this, teachers should “think critically about when to take the lead during instruction and when to support the leadership of student[s] in investigating ideas and issues” (Sunal & Haas, 2011, p. 8). In other words, teachers should make a decision about how much interaction they will have with the students and to what point will they assist their learning.