Jessica R. Gonzales Miramontes

Dr. John Bartelt

Foundations of Education

La Fetra COllege of Educaiton, Univ. of La Verne

5 May 2016

Teaching Philosophy 

To teach a learner, I, as the teacher, must develop a path of success. I understand that a learning student’s education starts with showing the student their effective future. The individual student can achieve personal growth within their own learning environment. As an effective and productive teacher, I believe that it is my responsibility to properly provide the best quality education to my students though positive reinforcement as an interactive gateway. It is also important to create a positive and safe environment that students can learn to concentrate on the value of learned ideas and how it relates to their personally designed educational future. 

Jessica R. Gonzales

Dr. Redman

Senior Seminar

LaFetra College of Education, Univ. of. La Verne

26 February 2017

I am a Teacher

               I am a teacher who will make sure to provide the best possible education and learning environment possible by providing lessons with integration and a clear and concise development of the Multiple Intelligences. With each Multiple Intelligence, I intend on learning how each of my students develops and idea or connection. As I learn more about my students, I can make sure to gear each of my lessons with all eight of the intelligences, every time I teach.

               For example, in every lesson, the students will be able to recognize which intelligences they are using/perceiving, if not more. In a lesson that speaks about the different rock formations, the students will learn by using kinetic, visual, and authorial, to begin with by touching, watching, and listening. After the lesson takes off from the introduction, the lesson will also include naturalist. For this, I will take the students outside to compare the rocks I brought in, to the ones that are outside. For interpersonal, I will have the students get into groups and work together. While intrapersonal is independent, I would use this intelligence for students who require more attention from the lesson.  Students who seek more challenging assignments can always add a degree of difficulty. Lastly, I would use verbal for their assessments because I believe that if a student can convey content through a presentation verbally or non-verbally, then they have the concept a test with the same content.  Having students sit and take a test is the last educational contribution they want to see. If any of my students would rather take a written test, I will always provide one.

               Using the Multiple Intelligences as a foundation to every lesson can ensure that each of the eight areas are covered. While intend to create lesson plans with an organized order, there is always room for adjustment, especially when working with several different learning needs. Not only will I create these intelligences within the lesson, the students will also be held responsible for knowing what they are, and how to use them in their projects.

               While the multiple intelligences set a tone for the lesson, the climate of my classroom is a bit different than a usual set up. While I was an elementary school student, I found my favorite learning environment was one with a mini-government. There several ways as to providing this adventure for students and I believe in letting them have a guided choice. For example, students in my classroom will have a voice. They will get to vote daily, submit request for improvement (even to the teacher), and have the chance to make some classroom cash!

               How it works. Students will vote in the start of the school year. Voting will take place on topics like: class name, type of government, businesses, jobs for students, community involvement, and field trips, yes, I will try and get my students involved with where they get to go! Knowing that I get to give my students a choice in a lot of their educational environment will help them stay focused on the tough, mandatory processes along the way. As students learn the content, they will continue to develop their life skills, all while meeting and exceeding the standards. During my time as a college student, I asked a lot of colleagues, “What part of the classroom was your favorite?” The majority answered, “class money.” Hearing this come from the adults helps me determine the type of class I will be teaching for the future generation. Classroom management is also very important to me, as it is to most pre-service teachers.

               I am a teacher who will manage and embrace my classroom with a warm greeting that will also second as taking attendance. Each student will be reminded daily that they are making a difference in the world by just smiling. And if they smile when they write, they will feel better about their work. There will be more stickers given away than I can ever imagine.  Students will have a journal for every subject, and a goal planner where they create their own goals; daily, weekly, monthly, and even in a year. My students will be able to see their progress and learning goals and know how to positive self-talk. I want to help them feel good about learning, each time, every time. As they grow, I want to help them take risk.

               Risk taking can be helpful when teaching students that they can grow from pain. Knowing that taking risk can cause a negative emotional response means that I, as the teacher, need to see what they can learn from the risk, before they take it. Risk that include, trying a new sport, singing in front of random people, writing a long essay, defending a friend on the playground, coming to school with goofy clothing, asking questions, questioning the system, questioning the teacher, and telling an adult when they are in danger.

               I will expect my students to come out of the grade I teach with a knowledge of the content because they wanted to remember. I will expect my students to have a personality and not be afraid to be unique. I will create environments that allows for my students to learn what a risk is, why we take them as adults, and how they can improve one’s life. Years later, then they have become adults, they will be able to reflect and remember the risk I showed them, and the choice to take it.

               As I teach them to take risks, they will learn the value of the risk. They will see that the risk can benefit or take away from a situation. If the risk is to stand up to bullies, I would ask my students to remember some key points about this risk. One, it is pertaining another human. My students will learn that if the risk they choose to take involves another person, then they must choose to remain in the middle and kind to both sides. The students will be able to learn that while standing up to a bully is great idea, they must make sure they are emotionally strong enough to handle that situation like a responsible person, no matter their age.

               Presenting situations to students and using language that suggest “as a student” or “child” can limit their thinking. Making sure to include situations that can reach far past their school years. Helping them see how the risk can improve upon their learning environment will in turn help the student make effective and educated decisions. While risk taking is a valuable lesson when working with adults and colleagues.

               I am a teacher who will always seek out the truth, answer, and honesty with in my work environment. I will always respect those around me, their attitudes, and performance. As I collaborate with my colleagues, I will remember to ask questions, give constructive feedback, and give 100% of my effort in working together and alone. Allowing room for mistakes will be vital, as we are all human. I will bring with me a well-rounded education and contribute to the overall goal.

               My lifelong learning will consist of seeking out educational resources to advance my place in the classroom. I will continue to research for new and innovative ways to teach controversial topics as share the success with my colleagues. Applying strategies such as, personal habits and routines, goal setting, schedule organization, and continue questioning everything. My goals are to always improve upon what was learned from the day before, apply the learned concept, and continue to create good habits.

               Being an educator means more than teaching. It is the pedagogy of my teaching that brings value to who I am as an educator. No matter how bad my days can get as an adult, I will remember always, I am human, and so are my students. I do not know every detail when my students go home. I hope that no matter what their battles are, I can embrace them, and help them see that this shall pass too, like everything always does. Remind them to always keep their heads high, look to bright days, and never give up hope because their dreams are only within their grasp.