1. Regina Nunez
Philosophy of Education
It is my belief that through education, an individual will receive the vital skills and
tools that are necessary to build a life that is fruitful and prosperous. As a classroom
teacher, not only do I strive to impart knowledge unto my students, I also continuously
provide limitless guidance – both from the personal and academic worlds – for all of my
students. In doing so, I set high expectations in my classroom while providing endless
support, such as offering before and after school help for all children who are in need of
it. Most importantly, I give my students the motivation and confidence that is necessary
for them to believe that they can succeed. I believe that student’s interests and needs
are imperative. As a teacher, it is my job to differentiate because not all students learn
the same way. To accomplish this goal, I always strive to make my classroom a safe
and comfortable learning environment.
My ultimate objective is to build cohesion in the classroom so that there is a
sense of community between the teacher and the pupils. I never want my students to
feel as though they need to hide who they are with me or the rest of the class. Instead,
my desire for them is to feel at ease - never hesitating to raise any questions or
concerns that may arise. My approach to accomplish this is to construct a culturally
responsive classroom. A way in which I promote diversity is in activities that teach
students to each other and different cultures. I reach this goal through the examples
that are given in the classroom – whether it involves the mathematics concepts that we
are currently learning or the location of which we are exploring for Earth Science. For
my students to learn to respect their fellow peers and myself, racial discrimination and
prejudices will not be tolerated. Tolerance means that I also cannot place judgment,
hold assumptions, or impart my beliefs on these children.
I believe that the entire school day should be a time where each student’s
potential is being recognized and expanded. Alongside the widespread reports that
mainly focus on reading, writing, and answering rote mathematics problems, I also
develop creative assignments on topics that are student-chosen (for science), such as
multi-genre projects, and offer real-world situations that apply to what we are currently
learning about my mathematics classes to explore. Giving students a variety of ways to
2. express the knowledge that they have acquired a further interest in learning, as well as
nourishing the development of robust and unique identities. While the student-chosen
assignments may be considered “fun,” the material is still rigorous and demanding. I
realize that there is currently an immense amount of pressure for students to perform
well on standardized tests. Rather than following the current trend of “teaching to the
test” though, the material that is needed to master these assessments is covered in my
daily assignments.
The final piece of my educational philosophy comes from within my own heart.
This section is all about attitude. I affirm that a teacher should show enthusiasm, a
positive outlook, hope, determination, and dedication in all aspects of this profession.
Teachers have the opportunity to make such a powerful impact on young people’s lives
and are a mentor in so many instances. A teacher’s attitude is an essential ingredient
to success. It can motivate, support, encourage, students, parents, and other
community members. I am not naive to think that everyday teaching will be the best day
I ever had. I can do my part by seeing each day as a fresh start, full of possibilities for
accomplishment.
Respectfully,
Regina Nunez