In my first education class for my special education teaching credential, my professor asked us each to write out our philosophy of education. I’d never given my philosophy of education a thought before, so it was a stretch for me to believe I could come up with one—of course, I procrastinated the task until the night before it was due.
When you finally get that first teaching job, you probably won’t be asked what your philosophy of education is (except in an Education 101 class). Still, it’s good to know it by heart. Your mindset is what drives you to action, and your philosophy of education shapes the kind of educator you are.
I don’t really remember what I wrote for my first draft of my philosophy of education, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you have one—no matter what you teach. And this should inform you as you sit down to meet the principal of the schools that you consider for your first voyage into the educational ocean. Make sure that your educational priorities line up with those of your employer. For example, it’s hard to imagine that any elementary administrator would not be all for movement breaks, collaborative grouping, and flexible seating for students. But not all of them are, so if that’s important to you, make sure you discuss it.
Here are a few more suggestions for you to look for in your first special education teaching gig.
Photo by Amy Hirschi on Unsplash