Margaret Lewis

EDU 202 Spring 2019

Artifact #1
Educational Philosophy

When I was in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I had so

many passing interests and impossible dreams, but I could never pin down one thing that I could

picture myself doing as a profession. I went on to college, hoping that sometime in my studies, I

would figure something out. However, my first semester passed, and I realized that if I did not

have a clear goal in mind, I was wasting my time and money at college. In an irrational,

spur-of-the-moment decision, I dropped out of college, left South Carolina--the place I had

called home for eighteen years—and moved west. It was then that I did some serious

introspection and realized that if there is anything in this world I am truly, deeply passionate

about, it is the pursuit of knowledge. I was blessed with some excellent teachers who

encouraged me, motivated me, kept my love of learning alive, and it is perhaps because of this

that I have always enjoyed school. In the time I spent soul-searching, I decided that I owe it to

future generations to help them find their passions.

Though many of the teachers in my life have been incredible, one man stands out as my

greatest inspiration for becoming a teacher. Mr. Fish was a dynamo. He took the world of

English literature and set it on fire. No one was more passionate about his subject than this man,

and it showed. Beyond that, however, he had a way of connecting with his students. He made a

point of developing a relationship with all of us, whether it was through extracurricular activities

or through the detailed notes he would write in the margins of student essays he graded. While
conducting my field observation, Mrs. Crouch, the teacher I observed, claimed that the most

important part of being a teacher was developing these kinds of meaningful relationships with

students, and in my experience, she is right. When teachers care for their students, students care

more about the class. This is evident from what I have seen in both Mrs. Crouch’s and Mr.

Fish’s classrooms.

My personal philosophy of teaching is one that encourages open discussion, building

relationships, thinking critically, and developing individual thoughts and opinions.

Progressivism is the main inspiration for my personal philosophy; this promotes the importance

of student curiosity and real-life experiences as they relate to various lessons. Students are not

simply told the correct answer; they are encouraged to think critically and draw their own

conclusions. I feel that this philosophy is the most conducive to learning and promotes a lifelong

love of learning in students. Having worked in a Montessori school for several months, I also

take some of my personal teaching philosophy from Maria Montessori, whose teachings say to

“follow the child.” This manner of education is all about self-discovery and independence, and

also makes the classroom more of a familial setting. Like Mr. Fish and Mrs. Crouch, I will strive

to develop positive relationships with all my students and show that I care about their school

lives as well as their personal lives. Historically, schools have not always been sympathetic to

students from different backgrounds, but when I enter the classroom, I will embrace diversity

and celebrate all the things that make us different. I will do my best to recognize any

disadvantages students may face—whether it is a learning disability, poverty, bullying, or

anything else—and accommodate every student to the best of my ability. Through my studies at

the College of Southern Nevada, I have learned about different kinds of intelligences and
different learning styles. Not all students display intelligence in the same way, and not all

students learn the same way. As a teacher, it is important to recognize these differences and

cater to all my students’ various needs. I will incorporate different teaching styles into my

lessons for auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners and help students determine which learning

style is right for them. My classes will involve a great deal of cooperative learning; not only

does this make class fun and improve social skills, it also helps students see lesson material from

the different perspectives of their peers.

To achieve my goals in teaching, I must maintain patience, understanding, empathy, and

enthusiasm. The work of a teacher is exhausting, but even on the days I do not feel up to the

task, I must put on a happy face for my students and remember that my job is not about me; it is

about the students. Teaching in a preschool has prepared me for many of the aspects of being a

secondary education teacher, but I still have so much to learn. I look forward to continuing my

education to become a teacher through the pedagogical training at the University of Las Vegas,

and I expect that my student teaching will provide me with valuable experience in preparation

for becoming a teacher. After becoming a teacher, I doubt my educational journey will end. Not

only do I intend to go on to get a master’s, or perhaps even a doctoral, degree, but I will also look

for seminars and classes to take throughout my teaching career to keep my knowledge fresh. This

is an exciting journey for me, and I cannot wait to share my passion for learning with a new

generation.