For my individual lesson I will be teaching the students how to write a memo. Through the memo format the students will also be learning how to write persuasively. The students will be writing a memo to the principal and ask her to consider changing a rule or policy present in the school. The students will each choose one major change that they would like to see in the school, and then the class will vote on which student's rule change should actually go to the principal. Then, as a class they will collectively go through and write a memo from the class to send to the principal. This memo will include their reasons for wanting the rule change. It will be a great exercise to get the students to discuss ideas and brainstorm a logical persuasive argument. Hopefully, the principal will play along and write back a letter with reasons why this rule is the way it is. The students will then be able to come up with a defensive persuasive argument offering bargains to achieve their wish.
When it comes to my educational philosophy, I really don't have one. Well, actually I believe I do, but I don't have any technical concepts or terms to include in it. All I know is that I believe each child deserves a nourishing, hearty education, special made to benefit them in the greatest possible way. I believe that differentiated instruction is one of the most important classroom instruction strategies, if that has anything to do with my "educational philosophy." Either way, my philosophy is that each child is different and deserves my support, as his/her teacher, on his/her pathway to success.
Question: What is your educational philosophy? Or rather, what do you feel is your biggest goal in the classroom? What do you enter and leave the classroom hoping for?
