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Ashley White Professor Purvin Education Field Experience EDUC 230-02 Spring 2013 Rationale Statement Standard Two

Statement of Standard Two - Human Growth and Development

Teachers shall understand how children and adolescents develop and learn in a variety of school, family and community and provide opportunities that support their intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development (NJPTSB, 2004. Pg.10).

Name of Artifact: Personal Teaching Philosophy Date of Artifact: April 2013 Course: Education Field Experience EDUC 230-02 Rationale Statement: The artifact I chose to include with this standard is my Personal Teaching Philosophy. This corresponds with standard two because it shows my understanding of how students learn and develop whether it is in the school setting or not. It also shows that I understand how to create opportunities that support the development not just intellectually but also socially, emotionally, and physically. As I reflect on my years as a student and now as I continue my journey to becoming an educational professional, I have been able to adapt my philosophy accordingly. In order for a teacher to be a successful one, it is important that they understand their students and the various learning styles that they may have. As a teacher it is also important to understand that there may be issues beyond the students control that may have a negative impact on their ability to learn. Things or issues in the home, for example, may have a bearing on the students ability to grasp concepts and ideas. I believe in the theory of progressivism which corresponds nicely with standard two. Developing lessons that afford me the opportunity to meet the needs of my students and give them the opportunity to learning through personal experience is what standard two is about. For many students in middle school learning through personal experience is the best teacher for that age. They are able to see the importance of the information for themselves instead of someone simply telling them why it is important. Creating this artifact also taught me and helped me to appreciate that no approach or philosophy regarding teaching is wrong. One of the teachers I work with at my current job has helped me to see that although our approach to working with the students is different, we both get the desired outcome and the students are

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smiling and happy. Varying personalities will make for different philosophies, but that does not make one more correct than the other. At times my philosophy may vary depending on the students I am working with, but the outcome is the same. In the future, I can use this artifact as a statement of my beliefs as a teacher and what my ideas are for my classroom. It is important to have your beliefs clear in mind and established. Only then will the success and desired outcome be reached.

References Board, New Jersey Professional Teaching Standards. (July 2004) New Jersey Professional Standards for Teachers and School Leaders. Retrieved from http://www.state.nj.us/education/profdev/profstand/standards.pdf.