Assignment 5: Written Paper: Portrait of a Teacher: Philosophy of Education Statement

EDSN 600 History and Philosophy of Education and Special Education-   Assignment 5: Written Paper: Portrait of a Teacher: Philosophy of Education Statement (20 points)            

• A Philosophy of Education Statement reflects one’s core values and beliefs concerning education.
• Assignment Requirements: 6-8 pages; do not exceed eight pages (the cover sheet and works cited pages are not included in the required page count).

Specified details and documents will be given in class, emailed, and posted on Canvas.

See Assignment 5 details below:

Your personal philosophy of education statement will center on the intersections and interactions of historical themes, current practices, relevant theory and philosophy, and personal identity in education.

This reflective piece, 6-8 pages long, summarizes your educational position on the purpose, process, nature, and ideals of education.

Your personal education philosophy explains the beliefs and ideas that underlie your thinking and regulate your actions and the philosophical and historical theories and themes behind them.  Your statement should include numerous references to the philosophies and philosophers that have informed your thinking.  APA format required.

Make sure your essay addresses all of the questions below:

• Briefly describe your K–12 education (2 paragraphs). What philosophical ideas did your education exemplify? How did this approach influence your ideas about teaching and learning?
• In your view, what is the purpose of education? What philosophical ideas and historical developments studied in class support this view? (2-3 paragraphs)
• How do you define your role as a teacher? What is the role of the student? What philosophical ideas and historical developments studied in class support this view? (3-4 paragraphs)
• What are your objectives for student learning and development? What knowledge, skills, and attitudes are important? What are you preparing students to do or become? What philosophical ideas and historical developments studied in class support your response? (3-5 paragraphs)
• How will you address the needs of special needs learners in your classes? What specific teaching strategies do you endorse for exceptional learners? What philosophical ideas and historical developments studied in class support this view? (3-4 paragraphs)
• Give specific examples of teaching strategies and assessment practices that are aligned with your philosophical ideas. Explain how they are aligned.  (3-4 paragraphs).
• How does your own identity (e.g., race, gender, class, background, experience, and levels of privilege) affect the classroom? How does this contrast with your students’ identities? How do/will you, account for diverse ways of learning and knowing various cultures and abilities in your classroom? What philosophical ideas and historical developments studied in class support this view? (3-4 paragraphs)
• Summarize your personal philosophy of teaching in a mission statement of not more than five sentences. What steps will you take to assess your growth and progress toward actualizing your personal philosophy of education?  (1-2 paragraphs)

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK & COURSE MATERIALS

1. Gutek, Gerald L. Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Education, 5th ed., Pearson
2011
2. Brighouse, Harry. On Education, Routledge 2006