Your assignment is to write a philosophy of education that addresses each component of the scoring guide provided. Essential guiding questions are provided below.

         1.    What is the purpose of education? For society? For individuals?

         2.    What factors influence curriculum? Political? Social? Economic?

         3.    What are my personal goals as an educator? What lasting influence will I have  

                  on my students?

         4.    Why and how must I consider the developmental stages of the learners I am     

                charged with teaching? What theorists influence my thought regarding the

                developmental appropriateness of my teaching? Piaget? Erikson? Kohlberg?

                What are the many ways in which students differ? (Gender, race/ethnicity,

                learning styles) How do I accommodate for these differences?

          5.   What is the teacher’s role in the classroom? The student’s?

          6.   How is the curriculum determined? How do national standards influence

                the curriculum? What other entities influence curriculum? (e.g., textbook

                companies, programs, media, community resources)

           7.  How do I plan to grow professionally? What role will reflection have in my

                development as a career teacher? How will I collaborate with others

                (e.g., parents, colleagues, community agencies) to improve my teaching?