Erica Crighton

Philosophy in Teaching
It is my opinion that children learn best through play experiences where they
are given the opportunity to learn through their own active experiences, as opposed
to sitting down at a desk and being given worksheets to do. As an educator, I
recognize play as a crucial way for children to learn and develop skills while having
fun. When children play, they are able to use their imaginations, gain problemsolving skills, and actively participate in social interactions. I am opposed to
children learning by rote through flash cards or work sheets, because it teaches
them how to conform to the ways in which society believes that children should
learn rather than allowing children to be creative. Play allows children, through
their sensory engagement and their use of symbols to represent their discoveries,
to develop their logic and reasoning skills; simply put, children learn through their
interaction with the classroom environment and what they are able to observe
within it.
Children learn more skills while being in a childcare setting with other
children then they would while being in the home environment. In addition, I also
feel that children who attend a childcare setting are more accepting of people who
are different and adapt better within the social economy than those who are not
home schooled properly. Lastly, I believe that children who learn during the early
stages of their lives are able to retain more information than children who learn
later on in their lives. This is especially true when trying to teach children a new
language, one that is not spoken at home with their families.

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A responsive educational environment is one that focuses on the needs of
the children and is appropriate to their development levels. It should also focus on
the needs of the families, responding appropriately to their values, beliefs, and
cultural differences. A responsive and inclusive curriculum should be based on play
experiences created around the childrens interests, strengths, needs and life
experiences. Such a curriculum design respects the families values and beliefs,
which may be incorporated into the childs educational experience.
My role with children and families is to work collaboratively with them to
ensure that the children are getting the best learning, the best training for their
future, that I can provide. By doing so, I am facilitating, scaffolding and supporting
childrens learning through their environment and experiences. It is also my duty as
an Early Childhood Educator to ensure that the children are safe, while engaging in
the experiences I organize based on their interests. I also believe that my role as
Early Childhood Educators is to be advocates for the children and families to help
ensure that their needs are met.