My Philosphy  of Education

Sydney Augustine

  My philosophy of education is that all children should have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential in and beyond the classroom, which I believe begins with each and every child having access to a safe and stimulating learning environment where they can healthily develop physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. As a future educator who will be entrusted with educating young minds, it is my duty to provide this type of environment that supports the individual, unique needs of each student.

​

         In order to accomplish this goal of creating a comfortable and caring space for my students, I will be devoted to incorporating diversity and inclusion into the classroom. With an understanding of Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, I know that an “individual’s cognitive development is influenced by their culture” and that each culture presents unique differences. I want to be sensitive and supportive to each of my student’s individual learning experiences and needs, which I will do by first establishing honest and personal connections with my students. I expect to be teaching in a multicultural classroom where my students are entrenched in different sociocultural contexts and I want to embrace these differences by incorporating them in my teachings that promote social interaction.

​

         Placing great emphasis on the constructivist learning theory, I will guide my students in constructing their own understanding and knowledge of the world, through their experiences and reflection of those experiences. With an understanding of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems of theory, I see clearly how multiple interconnected systems can influence the learning of a child. With the development of new skills and the acquirement of different tools, I want each of my students to discover and transform the experiences that are created from these varying systems and apply them. For example, I will like to increase the critical media literacy of students of color and provide them with digital media tools so that they are able to change the false narratives told about them.

​

            My goal as an educator is to help my students gain a broader perspective of the world beyond what they know can and see. Because I know how all systems within the world are interconnected to influence the growth and development of children, I will encourage my students in acquiring an awareness of what is happening nationally and internationally. I am hoping that it can stir an ambitious rage inside them to take their newly-discovered passions and use them to address social issues. Their experiences within the classroom should allow them to go outside of it to become the change they want to see.

​

         The strong foundation of educational coursework I have built has given me basic knowledge, understanding of major concepts, a greater development of problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and acquired professional habits and attitudes. This foundation I feel will allow me to be a well-prepared educator that is understanding of my students’ different sociocultural backgrounds and learning abilities and develop the ability to apply the appropriate teaching methods in my classroom.