The document discusses the philosophy of education according to Oksana Parkhomovsky. It makes three key points: 1) The purpose of education is to empower students with both theoretical and practical knowledge needed for future success through tightly integrating theory and practice. 2) An ideal teacher inspires learning beyond just facts by bringing creativity, enthusiasm, and motivation to their profession on a daily basis. 3) The learning process should be both educational and entertaining so students want to learn and get the most out of their experience, especially in early childhood when drawing children to school is critical.

1. Oksana Parkhomovsky Philosophy of Education page 1
The purpose of education is to empower students with knowledge, both
theoretical and practical necessary for their future success. Theoretical knowledge comes
from subjects like reading, writing, mathematics, music, history and a wide range of
sciences; practical knowledge teaches students how to take what they’ve learned in
theory and use it in a fun, hands-on approach, while relating it to their everyday lives.
Only through a tight integration of theory and practice does a student gain the most out of
his/her education. My idea of the perfect teacher is one, who inspires learning in addition
to just relating the required facts. A certain amount of creativity, enthusiasm, and
motivation is required of the teacher. Certainly, this is a high demand for anyone in this
profession on a daily basis. However, considering that children are our future, the effort
is worth it!
One of the most important factors that contributes to a learning environment is the
teacher. Teachers play a critical role in a child’s ability to learn the material. Their job is
not only to transfer knowledge to the students, but also to encourage them to think on
their own and come up with ways of discovering new things independently. The teacher’s
style must be organized in a way that promotes learning enjoyment. Student participation
and creativity are two critical factors of an effective educational process. A teacher
should facilitate the learning process, without controlling it, and maintain the class’
attention at all times. One of the ways of doing so is through constant interaction. Games,
competitions, group collaborations and debates are just a few of the examples of how
class participation can be enhanced.

2. Oksana Parkhomovsky Philosophy of Education page 2
The learning process has to be both educational and entertaining, so that students
would want to learn and get the most out of their learning experience. This is especially
critical in early childhood education, where young children are just getting used to the
school environment. Given that children spend majority of their day in school, teachers
must establish a home-like atmosphere that would draw their students to school. A school
must be a safe and fun place where a child develops academically and learns to apply the
skills he/she acquires in the real world.
Parents and teachers must be in constant communication to ensure that a child’s
progress meets both of their expectations, or to address any issues that hinder that
progress. A child must first be taught how to learn and to enjoy learning. Only then would
he/she be on the right path to success.

3. Oksana Parkhomovsky Philosophy of Education page 3
Other Sources:
http://www.ed.gov/parents/earlychild/ready/resources.html
The years before a child reaches kindergarten are among the most critical in his or
her life to influence learning.
According to the influential National Academy of Sciences publication, Eager to
Learn: Educating Our Preschoolers, "care and education cannot be thought of as
separate entities in dealing with young children." To this end, the U.S. Department of
Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are working
together to ensure that our children have a strong foundation in both the educational
and the social-emotional domains that provide children with the preparation they
need to enter kindergarten ready for success.
http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=KxmMSJH86KMXvqb3Ydm4L
WjCpJkzNFTJBHTgNnvQjDQ6TrTlYnzX!-174482761!1579770234?docId=5000564159
Traditionally, the goal of curriculum has been to transmit knowledge and facts from
teacher to students, where students were expected to learn facts as accurately as
possible. This concept, however, has changed over the last half century in North
America: new goals have been articulated, not to mainly transmit knowledge and
facts but to develop and to nurture the students' own capacities. Barton & Booth
(1990) proposed that the aim of curriculum is to develop students' original thinking,
connect students' individual needs to their learning, and give them diverse
intellectual experiences. In order to attain these goals, instruction must focus on
students' individual differences and lead them to be independent learners.
Developing students' problem-solving skills and stimulating their intellect and
imagination is essential. Barton & Booth state that "our goal of response must be one
of deepest learning, not of leading children to solve a puzzle that we have designed
and of which we know the outcome" (p. 91). Instead, "we must help children
through their own story mazes, arming them for battle, nursing their wounds, giving
them sustenance, sharing our wisdom" (ibid). This new concept of curriculum is
based on Dewey's (1916, 1938, 1940) philosophy that the purpose of education is to
cultivate individual differences and to develop the students' own characteristics
independently while bringing them into full participation in society. Dewey argued
that learning comes from students' direct experience rather than from absorbing
facts and values through textbooks and lectures.
http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/early/teachingouryoungest/page_pg4.html#enviro
nment
Effective preschool classrooms are places where children feel well cared for and safe.
They are places where children are valued as individuals and where their needs for
attention, approval, and affection are supported. They are also places where children
can be helped to acquire a strong foundation in the knowledge and skills needed for
school success.

4. Oksana Parkhomovsky Philosophy of Education page 4
 Young children need teachers who welcome all children to their classrooms,
including children from various cultures, whose first language is not English
and children who have disabilities.
 Young children need teachers who take time to work with them individually,
in small groups, and sometimes with the entire class–to help them develop
their cognitive and social skills, their language abilities, and their interest in
learning new things about the world.
 Young children need instruction to develop the thinking, language, and early
literacy skills needed for continued school success.
Effective preschool teachers and child care providers:
 Know when children can figure out new ideas and concepts on their own and
when it is important to explain things to them step-by-step.
 Encourage children to participate in classroom activities and to honor the
classroom rules.
 Listen to what the children say and expand upon their language, building their
vocabulary and background knowledge.
 Know when to teach directly, when to provide time for exploration and
discovery, when to practice skills, and when to encourage creativity.
 Plan activities that have a purpose and that challenge children.
 Know how to help children learn to work together and to resolve their
conflicts.
 Encourage children to respect each other's time and personal belongings.
 Provide many opportunities for conversations between and among children
and with adults.
 Know how to establish and maintain order in a classroom but in a manner
that permits the children to learn how to participate in and enjoy learning.
 Arrange the classroom in a way that enhances their work with children and
how the children spend their time.
Another Good Resource:
“Eager to Learn: Educating Our Preschoolers” – online book
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=9745&page=R1