Educational Philosophy

     “I want my students to embrace creativity.” “I want to give kids a chance to express themselves and learn their strengths.” “I want to give kids the tools to make positive changes in the world.” These are all conclusions I’ve come to when I think about what I want to achieve as a future educator. Why do teachers choose this field, and why do I want to teach? I personally have many reasons for this. These reasons are thoroughly thought out, researched, and hopefully; I will implement them during my career. This train of thought is what I define as my “philosophy of education”, and within this document, you will find the theories, methodologies, and research I have based my opinions on.

         The philosophy of Puerto Rico’s Department of Education (PRDE or DEPR in Spanish) focuses on producing students that will be creative and competitive learners who will contribute to the island in many ways. The PRDE aims to give students a diverse and just education that develops them into independent and conscious individuals. I agree that we as educators should aim to help students reach their full potential while helping them discover their own strengths. This is the reason why I like Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence’s theory.

       Multiple intelligence (MI) is an educational theory developed by Howard Gardner. This theory was first published in his book Frames of Mind, in 1983. This theory states that human intelligence is a complex set of different abilities. Gardner identified seven types of intelligences, but later added two more. The nine types of intelligence are the following: musical, linguistic, bodily-kinesthetic, logical-mathematical, spatial, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalistic, and existential. Each intelligence that Gardner identified, represents different ways people process information, and solve problems, which emphasizes the scope of what humans are capable of. According to Gardner’s theory, every person possesses more than one type of intelligence, and they are beyond what can be measured through traditional Intelligence Quotient (IQ).

     TPR or total physical response is a teaching method I learned about recently. It is very hands-on, and it reminds me of John Dewey’s “learning by doing” motto. I recently observed first grade students and the teacher I observed enjoyed implementing TPR or Total Physical Response into her classes. TPR is developed by James Asher, and it is a language teaching method in which speech and action are coordinated to teach language through movement. Teachers take on a leader-type of role where they give verbal commands to students and the children respond verbally. An example would be that the teacher says, “sit” or “stand up” and the students do the behavior physically by sitting and standing up. I enjoyed observing these classes and learning about this teaching method.

         I have already mentioned John Dewey, and I must state that cognitivism is one of my favorite educational paradigms and I enjoy how it gives students the chance to experiment and be active participants in their learning, rather than passively absorbing information. John Dewey’s theory about “learning by doing” resonates very much with me, because I believe that students should be prompted to exercise critical thinking, develop practical skills, and be socially aware. Regarding social awareness and social interactions, Lev Vygotsky’s theory of sociocultural theory hits home. According to Vygotsky’s theory, social and cultural factors shape the student’s learning and development. I believe that it is critical that teachers learn about this theory, because student’s cultural and social backgrounds affect how they learn.

     It is necessary to understand the landscape of education in Puerto Rico. As an ESL teacher, I understand that my job is not to “Americanize” the students, and instead, it is to give them tools that they will need for their future. English being taught in Puerto Rico has a complicated past, and the reluctance in learning it is partially due to the historical context. This reluctance can be seen and felt throughout the island. Nonetheless, this is a universal language that will give the students opportunities in their future careers and therefore, their lives. We are living in a globalized era, where speaking more than one language is necessary for communication. English is a universal language, so it is necessary because with it, students can communicate with people in other countries and therefore, broaden their horizons. Speaking the same language as people from other countries can also encourage students to take interest in other cultures, lifestyles, food, and so on. By teaching English, we also promote equity and tolerance for differences between people from all over the world.

     While writing this paper I have realized how much I have grown and changed since I started this degree, and I couldn’t have done it without the help of my professors, peers, and family members. Education is a privilege, and I am so grateful to be a student. I know that this is just the beginning and that there are so many things I have yet to learn, but I am very grateful for my studies and everything I have been taught at this university. I will undoubtedly use all that I have learned in my future career, and I cannot wait to put it all in practice. In my future classroom, I want to promote a safe learning environment, one where mistakes are not ridiculed, but instead are welcomed, because through them, we learn. I can’t wait to help the future generations reach their full potential; I can’t wait to see them thrive.