Values and Beliefs of The Teaching Philosophy

“Every environment implies a set of values or beliefs about the people who use the space and the activities that take place there….each environment also influences the people who use it in subtle or dramatic ways” (Jaruszewicz, page 10).

In Week One you discussed a teaching philosophy and curriculum

which most closely matched your own teaching philosophy. This

discussion question will expand on these ideas and focus on the

classroom environment. Watch each of the following videos:

Montessori approach: Developmental Stages (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Reggio Emilia approach: Reggio Approach (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Waldorf approach: Waldorf’s Integrated Way of Learning (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Pay particular attention to each classroom environment. Choose one approach that you identify with most (it may be the same or different from the approach you discussed in Week One).

THIS IS MY ARTICLE FROM WEEK ONE THAT EXPLAINS MY TEACHING STYLE:

Our text indicates that the
curriculum model and
curriculum approach

are sometimes used interchangeably. After reading chapter one and

chapter two of our text, I have concluded that I am closely relatable

toward B.F. Skinner’s behavioral techniques as in such with Operant Conditioning.

This makes sense because this teaching approach concentrates on

observable objectives like learning physical skills, as well as

behavioral and emotional adaptation and restructuring. Which in turns

gives bounded goals toward specific pre-determined ends.

“B.F. Skinner’s idea is that learning is a function of change in overt behavior and the change in behavior are the result of an individual’s response to events, i.e. stimuli that occur in the environment. Teaching should seek to implement a reinforcement system.” (wikibooks.org).

Finding out that I align with Skinner’s theory gave me

problems with teaching a group of children that have age gaps, cognitive

functions, and maladaptive behaviors. This is because I was trying to

train those children to expect rewards, that I forgot to realize that

this theory of teaching can lead to failure in the absence of a reward.

In reality I must come to realize that teaching should include moral

and conscious decision making. In the real world we do not realize that

this kind of teaching method could give the idea that for everything we

do we should get rewarded. We forget we must teach to know that with

hard work and learning from mistakes is what gains our rewards. That we

have to earn the rewards in life. Its more than trying to “condition”.

It will be hard to address against the history and influence of Skinner. If I were to, I would have to start but remembering that not every lesson is rewarded. We do not live in a perfect world. That is what makes going against such teaching of Skinner’s theories of human condition. Keeping a student engaged is hard work. I will stand fast in argument that we are what our environment is.

END OF MY ARTICLE FROM WEEK ONE

Utilizing the text and at least one additional resource, please discuss specific values and beliefs of the teaching philosophy/approach you selected, and explain how these values and beliefs are reflected in the classroom environment design.

(ANSWER HERE)

What elements would you identify as especially important for you to include when implementing this teaching philosophy and curriculum?

(ANSWER HERE)

Resources to videos:

1. https://secure.films.com/OnDemandEmbed.aspx?token=…