Philosophy of Education

I believe that although children may have different learning styles, they are all capable of learning. Each child in a given class is unique in terms of cultural backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences, therefore, they do not all learn best in the same way. It is the job of an effective educator to get to know her students, and discover their individual needs. In order to accommodate all the various learning styles in a classroom, I believe that lessons and activities should be planned with Gardner's multiple intelligences in mind. Hands on activities should be used as well as textbooks, to enrich the curriculum. Cross-curricular activities should be employed so that children who excel in one area can use that strength to enhance learning in another. The creative arts should have a place in every classroom. Multiple intelligences work together, not in isolation. Students need to develop an appreciation of the aesthetics in life. For without beauty, music and art, life would be less rich. In addition, I believe that varying assignments must be used throughout the course of the year. Different learning styles require different testing strategies. All of the multiple intelligences must be touched upon, providing the opportunity for all students to succeed.