I would not be half the person I am today without all of the incredible people who have supported, encouraged, and inspired me throughout my years of learning and growing. Check out some of the powerful individuals I have had the privilege of learning from below!
· Millersville Professors ·
The professors at Millersville University have significantly impacted me as a future educator. While I always loved working with kids and spent many summers as a camp counselor, these individuals have shared their knowledge and expertise on how to teach. They make teaching look so easy! I absolutely love learning from their prior experiences and about their favorite strategies. They have given me so many ideas for my future classroom, from engagement techniques, to possible lesson designs, and strategies for creating a positive classroom environment.
Their unceasing curiosity has also rubbed off on me and led me to fall in love with learning all over again. They push me to dive deeper by providing me with opportunities to engage in individual research and follow current research on best practices. I never would have imagined conducting my own research project three years ago. One of my primary goals as an educator is to foster this same curiosity in my students that similarly leads them to become lifelong learners. Learning can be overwhelming, but it is also fun, fascinating, and exhilarating! I hope that my students find the same energy in learning.
· Theorists ·
John Dewey’s philosophy regarding the importance of experiential learning especially resonates with me as I have a strong interest in integrative STEM education. STEM pedagogy emphasizes practical, hands-on learning experiences for students. These opportunities for authentic learning can be structured for any content area, and Duke, Halvorsen, and Strachan offer advice for applying project based learning to social studies and literacy in their article “Project-Based Learning Not Just for STEM Anymore” (Duke et al., 2016). I personally value providing my students with meaningful learning experiences that are relevant to their lives. I never want to hear my students question why they are learning a concept because that means they view learning as a chore. Rather, I strive to design lessons that are engaging, relate to students’ current interests, and clearly have applications to the world beyond the classroom.
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” -John Dewey
My perspective on education also prioritizes Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. I recognize that, biologically, learning is not an essential need like food or water. If my students come to school hungry, tired, or anxious, learning quickly becomes a low priority. The hierarchy of needs pyramid will influence my future classroom as I plan to maintain a supply of snacks for my students, create a safe space where they feel comfortable taking risks and realize the value of mistakes, and offer them time to rest when they are clearly exhausted. I remember getting headaches in elementary school when we were not allowed to have water bottles. Even at eight years old this blew my mind. I will NEVER let my students experience this discomfort!
Finally, Lev Vygotsky’s sociocultural learning theory and concept of the zone of proximal development heavily influence my philosophy. Students spend a lot of time at home with their families and constantly interact with their peers. Of course they learn from all of these social experiences! As a teacher, I will try to build on this wealth of knowledge my students bring to the classroom. I will also design appropriately challenging opportunities for my students that push them just enough outside of their comfort zone to optimally learn and grow.
· Fellow Aspiring Educators ·
My peers at Millersville have significantly impacted me throughout our journey toward becoming preservice teachers. I find that our passions for education continue to grow as we become increasingly immersed in the education program. It is so energizing to be around people working toward the same goal! We continually encourage each other to become better educators by sharing ideas and collaborating both on projects in class and on events through education organizations. My peers are the best support system throughout all of the “firsts” that come with teaching. I love being surrounded by such creative and inspiring people as a member of the education community at Millersville.
· For Further Reading ·
Duke, N., Halvorsen, A., & Strachan, S. (2016). Project-based learning not just for STEM anymore. The Phi Delta Kappan, 98(1), 14-19. Retrieved February 21, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/24893301