Philosophy of Education

The world is an amazing place. So are people. Our job as teachers is to discover, learn, and share with others. Learning and growing can be a joyful adventure of life.

Part of the adventure is in discovering who we are. A quick glance reveals we are all unique with different abilities, challenges, and values to contribute. . As teachers, we need to reveal to our students their gifts and assist in applying those gifts in productive ways.

To learn requires change, knowledge, action, thought, or attitude. In discovering who we are, we find change and growth can be difficult. Many times, it is so difficult and we may choose not to participate. We are all for change until it effects or affects us; people require motivation and energy to accept change. It is here we need to encourage and support each other in these challenges. This is the challenge of teachers. Teachers not only possess knowledge, they know how, and care enough to, motivate their students. Education requires motivation.

I identify with the progressive teaching philosophy; however, I am very reluctant to accept labels, for they are constricting. In addition to progressivism, I believe that there are absolute truths in life, I see value in the classics, in discipline and respect in the classroom, and involving all students. John Dewey states. “Education is not a preparation for life; education is life itself” (ThinkExist.com Quotations). This example is my philosophical approach, and therefore, I consider myself a modified progressive.

Students need to know about life. To be successful we have to focus on the goal, not on the journey. The journey, if you focus solely on it, becomes hard and discouraging. The goal is exciting and encouraging. I am an advocate of learning by doing, and curriculum involving the mind, hands, and heart. I strive for enthusiastic and motivated learners to grow and become leaders. This can only happen when you engage the total body. The YMCA uses the phrase, “Mind, Body, and Spirit” to describe such a holistic approach.

In preparing our students for life, we need to promote a sense of community. We all need to acknowledge our uniqueness while celebrating all we have in common. Students need to know how to love and accept each other as we seek to learn and grow to our full potential. They need to learn how to work creatively with others and solve problems in a global community. This sense of community involves teachers working together, teachers as partners with parents, and teachers involving students in the community.

As we need to relate to people, we also need to connect to what we are learning. Learning is relational. To learn something we need to relate to it and its application. Learning is built on prior experiences and understanding. Learning is experience and applied to further understanding.

Learning is growing and it is what living things do. If we are not learning, we are not growing. If we are not growing, there is no adventure and life is empty. Teachers can be an important part of life’s adventure. Teachers can help us learn to, solve problems, overcome obstacles, experience teamwork, accept responsibility, love ourselves, love others, and begin to understand our world. My goal is to demonstrate to students that learning can be fun, and while I am at it, have some fun teaching!

Here you go, swim!

 “Here you go.”…Push…,”now start swimming!”

Is this the way to learn swimming? Perhaps, but I have not met anyone willing to learn that way. While this approach is great for movies, it generates anxiety, stress, and can cause harm. Is there a better way? Can a person learn to swim without all the trauma of a “sink or swim” approach? Can it even be enjoyable or fun? Yes, learning to swim, like any learning activity, can be fun.

Start with a basic need, safety. Young or old, we all like to feel safe. When we feel safe, we can be free to explore. In teaching swimming, I like to start by letting people know that safety and fun are related. Actually, safety is fun! That may get a puzzled expression, but now I have their attention. It is like a game, once you learn the rules it is a lot more fun.

So why do people want to swim? The answers are as varied as the fish in the sea: my mother made me, I am going on a canoe trip, I want to impress the girls, I am afraid of drowning, and more. Motivation is an important factor in learning. If the motivation is external, “my mother made me” the desire to learn is low, if it is internal, “I want to go canoeing,” you are over half way across the pool. The lure of fun can be a good motivator. At times, I will jump into to the pool, make a big splash, and come up saying “Wow that was fun, do you want to have fun?” It is an open invitation to play.

Many people never learn to swim because of fear. Whether that fear comes from life experience, a parent, or the evening news, fear can be a major obstacle in learning. Facing fear is the next step in opening the door to new adventures. What is the cure to fear? A major component for overcoming fear is trust. Trust helps us see past the fear and allows us to play.

Trust is a delicate issue and it is lost much faster than gained. Before placing your trust in someone, you want to know: just whose side are you on? Are you there for them or for yourself? Do you have what it takes to help? Are you reliable? Phrases that I have found helpful in earning a person’s valuable trust are: “I will help you”, “I won’t let go”, “my job is to see that you have fun,” Letting them know you genuinely care can strengthen the relationship. On the other hand, failure to be consistent or reliable is a quick ticket out of the trust market.

          As a coach/ instructor, my rules are simple: we do not say, “I can’t” or “No.” Instead say “Yes,” “I’ll try,” or “I need help.” I am in charge of having fun, and swimming is fun! We all need coaches. Coaches help us face our fears and see the potential that we did not know was there. They encourage us to do more, to go past our feelings and onto success.

Now breathe, yes relax. This is an important step. We are designed to float; a tense body will sink, while a relaxed body will float. Learning is very natural, we need to relax and enjoy the water!

Let’s play!

My "Oral" report for my Old Testament class

I have moved my presentation to the following site. I put too much work into it but the geek in me could not resist. I enjoied learning about Jeremiah. One of the lessons is that "God calls us to be Faithful not Sucessful" at least not sucess in the way that most will look at it.

Another great part is the real and relational part Jeremiah has with God. He got mad at God, debated with Him, as he wept for the people of Israel.

Check it out is you have a few min. Click below the picture.

http://www.slideboom.com/presentations/27004/Jeremiah-%E2%80%93-The-Man-and-