1. Philosophy of Education
Sandra Jaquette
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I
remember.
Involve me and I learn. “
-Benjamin Franklin

2. My goal as a science or biology teacher is to effectively teach all my students and
instill in them a love of science. As a future educator, I have developed beliefs on what
the ideal education is, and how I will deliver that experience to my students. My teaching
philosophy encompasses three areas. First of all, an effective teacher must provide
students with the opportunity to acquire, practice, and receive reinforcement of
fundamental knowledge and skills. Secondly, a good teacher encourages students to
think, by teaching them not to accept information passively, but to question, analyze, and
test newly acquired knowledge. Third, an effective teacher will design instruction which
motivates students and provides them with both real world connections to the content
and opportunities for success.
Students need to build fundamental knowledge of the unifying concepts in science. As
a teacher, I will communicate knowledge by taking into account diverse learning styles
and multiple intelligences. This will be accomplished by presenting concepts in different
ways such as lecture, multi-media presentations, problem solving, and cooperative
grouping. In addition, because each student is unique and learns in different ways, lessons
will be differentiated by including scaffolding, and adapting whole group lessons for
diverse learners. Students will know that my classroom is a safe place to learn, where
differences are accepted, and there are high expectations for behavior and learning. I will
strive to maintain a classroom where students will feel comfortable to explore ideas, make
mistakes, ask questions and take part in discussions.

3. A priority for science or biology teachers should be for students to leave the
classroom understanding how to be critical of science, analyze science, and relate new
science knowledge to their daily lives. I believe that guided inquiry based instruction and
collaborative learning are very effective ways to teach these skills. Inquiry helps students
practice problem solving and critical thinking skills and by applying these higher-order
thinking skills, students can process knowledge that enables them to become independent
learners. Equally important, students will use these skills throughout their lives, either in a
science career, or in other rapidly changing areas such as technology and medicine.
As a scientist, a teacher should inspire curiosity in students. Capturing students’
interest in science is crucial not only to improving science learning, but to promote
science literacy in order to prepare students for a society that is very science and
technologically driven.Motivation is a critical criterion in the learning process. Teacher
attitude and enthusiasm toward the subject plays an important role in engaging students.
My students will see that I am engaged and interested in the subject of science and they
will be inspired to learn. Students are also motivated by active learning; therefore, I want
my classroom to be student-centered. Techniques such as think-pair-share, student choice
for lesson process and produce, and group discussions are ways to motivate students to
learn, and help them take control of their own learning process.

4. Finally, due to the ever changing realm of science and education in the 21st Century, I
believe that it is critical to be a lifelong learner. This will allow me to always be on the
cutting edge of new developments in science education so that I can be the best teacher
possible for my students. I will continually be learning through research, classroom
experience, and interaction with my peers. In addition, I will continue to improve my
teaching skills by engaging in reflection, allowing me to think critically about what is
working and what is not. This will enable me to adapt my teaching to better meet the
needs of my students.
“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you
help them become what they are capable of becoming.”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe