Courtney Valencik

Educational Philosophy

An educator to students is like a potter to clay. The educator molds the student with the
help of tools like the community, respect, safety, classroom management, and by linking learning

Comment [C1]: This educational philosophy is a

reflection of my goals and practices as a teacher.
This links to standard 2.3, demonstrate reflective
practice, professional involvement, collaboration.
This philosophy also shows my priorities to my
students and to their learning. I focus on safety,
community connections, and making my students
into lifelong learners.

to things outside of school to ensure that life-long learners come out of the classroom and
continue learning throughout life. My teaching process makes students become active
participants in learning, ensuring that they think critically and link the content to things in other
classes, as well as to things in their out of school lives. This will challenge the students
academically, while I motivate them to be inquisitive and creative.
My goals for the students are not only that they earn good grades. I want them to get the
most out of their learning, since learning is not only for school, it is for life. I expect the students
to think outside of the box when it comes to the content, finding connections to their prior
knowledge, and building onto that. I also expect students to test things, finding likes and dislikes
as well as strengths and weaknesses. Since all students are individual, I want to bring out their
individuality, while also tailoring any lessons to fit their distinct needs. When they are done with
my class, they will have the skills they need to succeed in other classes and in life. The
communities around the students, as well as the community of students, are key roles in

Comment [C2]: Standard 4.4, promoting

respect/support for differences comes into place
within my philosophy. I am prepared to have a
classroom full of very different students with very
different backgrounds and ideas. I want all of my
different students to be able to do their best as well
as feel respected within my classroom.

education. The community around the students plays an active role in the students lives and
education. Their interactions and provisions provide a support system and help create uniformity.
The community of the students is equally important. School wide, students should be challenging
and supporting one another, as they will in my classroom. Work between the student community
and the community around the school will create a safe, cooperative place for education to
flourish.
The safety of the students is also a major idea. My ultimate objective for the classroom
environment is to make it a spirited place, where students feel at ease and work at their best,
knowing that they are safe and are encouraged to be diverse and creative. The concept of respect
will be of high priority in the classroom. I will give respect and expect to receive it back.
Keeping respect in the classroom will eliminate any student/teacher stress and make the student
feel welcomed and accepted as a valued learner.

Comment [C3]: By both respecting student

individuality (above) and creating a safe learning
and teaching environment, I can be showing
standard 2.1, create inclusive environment, where
all students feel equal, welcomed, and can work at
full potential.