Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-1 Bell Ringer Who was your best teacher ever? What qualities did that teacher posses? Are there any of those qualities that you would exhibit in the classroom? What?

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-2 Educational Philosophy and Your Teaching

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-3 QUICK WRITE SOMETIMES CALLED FREE WRITING What do you believe about teaching? What do you believe about learning?

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-4 Keep going… What do you believe about KIDS? What motivates YOU to learn? What outcomes do you expect from teaching? How will you run your classroom? What do you believe your role as an educator is? What will be the ultimate goal for your students?

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-5 Philosophy and Theory What’s the difference? Philosophy – The way things ought to be Theory – Explains events

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-6 Philosophy and Theory: An Application You and a friend are involved in a discussion. “This emphasis on being so careful about kids’ self esteem has set education back decades,” you assert. “We know what motivates kids. I’ve seen it over and over. When they succeed on tasks they perceive as challenging, their motivation increases. So, what we should be doing is challenging them and helping them succeed.” “That’s great,” your friend responds, “but how do you know what’s most important for them to learn? Kids need to learn how to get information on their own. Then, they’ll be equipped to function in today’s world.” Identify a statement you made that is based on theory, and then identify a “philosophical” statement. Also, identify a philosophical statement your friend makes.  “When they succeed on tasks they perceive as challenging, their motivation increases,” is a statement based on theory. You are explaining why kids are motivated.  “So, what we should be doing is challenging them and helping them succeed” is a philosophical statement.  “Kids need to learn how to get information on their own. Then, they’ll be equipped to function in today’s world,” is a philosophical statement your friend made.

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-7 Philosophies of Education Perennialism The educational philosophy suggesting that nature—including human nature—is constant and schools should teach content and topics that have withstood the test of time.

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-8 Philosophies of Education Essentialism The educational philosophy suggesting that specific knowledge and skills exist that all people should possess. Like math skills, spelling skills, communication Regardless of individual ability, need, etc.

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-9 Philosophies of Education Progressivism An educational philosophy emphasizing real- world problem solving and individual development. Learning by doing

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-10 Philosophies of Education Social Reconstructionism An educational philosophy asserting that schools, teachers, and students should take the lead in addressing social problems and improving society.

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-11

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-12 Philosophies of Education: Their Influence on Teaching Cont. What philosophy of education is best illustrated by each of the following descriptions. 1.Standards are part of reality in today’s schools, and you will be expected to prepare your students to meet the standards. 2.To Kill a Mockingbird, an American classic novel that deals with issues of racism, discrimination, and personal relationships, among other ideas, is commonly taught in American high schools. 1.The fact that standards exist suggests that educational leaders believe essential knowledge and skills exist that students should master, so the standards movement reflects essentialist philosophy. 2.Racism, discrimination, and personal relationships are time-honored ideas, so teaching To Kill a Mocking Bird reflects a perennialist philosophy. It indicates that although much of today’s curriculum reflects essentialism, the other philosophies are alive and well.

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-13 Philosophies of Education: Their Influence on Teaching Cont. 3.You’re a science teacher, and you want your students to understand the concept camouflage. So, you take a box each of red, green, yellow, and blue toothpicks, randomly distribute equal numbers of each color on a marked off section of the school grounds and give your students 5 minutes to collect as many toothpicks as they can find. You then bring your students back into the classroom and you discuss reasons why they found different numbers of each color. 4.One of your colleagues feels very strongly about bullying, and spends considerable time in his classroom discussing examples of bullying, including cyber-bullying and why it is wrong. He uses every incident of bullying as a “teachable moment,” to deal with the issue. 3. Your approach best reflects a progressivist philosophy. You emphasize the personal growth of students, so you involve them, provide them with experiences, and promote personal and social skills through discussion. 4. Your colleague’s emphasis reflects a social reconstructionist orientation. He uses the examples as opportunities to improve the social environment of the school and classroom.

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-14 Philosophies of Education: Their Influence on Teaching Cont. 5.A fourth grade teacher gives her students a math quiz every Thursday, and they go over the results every Friday. “Practice, practice, practice,” she asserts. “They won’t get if they don’t practice. 5. This teacher’s view suggests that she believes that her students need to acquire basic and important math skills, so her approach reflects an essentialist philosophy.

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-15 Personal Philosophies of Education 1.What is the purpose of a personal philosophy of education? 2.What is the beginning point for forming a personal philosophy of education? 1.A personal philosophy of education helps us decide what kind of teachers we want to be. The philosophies guide our decisions and actions. 2.Forming a personal philosophy of education begins by examining our beliefs about students, teaching, learning, and education in general.

Kauchak and Eggen. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Fifth Edition. © 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 Copyright Years by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 5-16 Discussion Questions Technology is becoming increasingly important in society as well as education. Which of the four philosophies of education— perennialism, essentialism, progressivism, or social reconstructionism—is most compatible with applications of technology in education? Least compatible? Students are becoming increasingly diverse. How well do the different philosophies of education address issues of student diversity? Which philosophy of education has the most current support in the geographic area in which you plan to teach? What evidence do you have for your conclusion?