Marissa's Educational Philosophy

Who am I and what motivates me?

I don't know who I am right now. I feel very different from the Marissa I was 6 years ago, from 4 years ago, from six months ago. I'm a little vulnerable right now, because I'm trying to figure this question out.

I know I'm God's child (even though I feel and believe that about everyone else, I forget that it's true for me as well).

Fear motivates a lot of my life.

How can I change that? How can I make sure future students aren't motivated by fear?

The things I'm passionate about drive my scholastic decisions- I wouldn't want to attend college if I didn't care about what I wanted to spend my life doing.

Obligation also motivates/ drives me

Obligation is an okay motivator at first, but eventually we have to learn to do things because we believe in them (similar to how we gain our testimonies).

How do I view those I teach?

First and foremost, as human beings

As sponges. They will soak in the material, mannerisms, patterns, etc. that we provide them with.

As future adults who will help shape the future of our society

As individuals, each with their own set of unique ideas, talents, and interests

As God's children. Each individual is important

What is my work as a learner and a teacher?

As a teacher, I think it is ever important for us to keep learning. How can we be considered an "expert" in something (we shouldn't be teaching if we aren't an expert in that topic) if we aren't keeping up with new information, technological updates, etc?

The teacher and the student both have to decide they want to be there in order for successful learning to take place.

There is preparation involved in that decision. The student needs to do their best to learn the material, do their homework, ask questions when they're confused. The teacher needs to spend time lesson-planning, preparing effective tests/homework, and then providing feedback for those exercises (so the students can know how to improve).

"Sometimes people use thought to not participate in life" (Perks of Being a Wallflower). This makes me think about when it's really late, and I know I should read my scriptures before bed. So I open them up in my lap, but then I get distracted and realize I haven't read anything yet. I can't learn by osmosis! I think students feel this way. They want to succeed in school! But because of fear, or laziness, or tiredness, or not knowing where to even start in this massive task, they don't participate. We can't let our own minds be what limits our ability to learn.

I tutored high school students in math and other topics for years. I remember having an argument, for 20 minutes, with one of the kids I tutored. He was supposed to sign his syllabus and get an easy grade boost- but he didn't want the teacher, halfway to the semester when his grades were slipping, to to pull out that syllabus and tell him "you agreed to this". He was so unwilling to do the work, he wouldn't even sign the syllabus! His learning could have been entirely more successful if he'd decided he wanted to be there- if he stopped viewing school as nothing more than an annoying chore.

To provide an effective education for students ("What is worth teaching" explains what I think qualifies an effective education).

To inspire students- to foster their creativity, their passion for learning

What is worth teaching?

What the student is interested in (Montessori viewpoint)

Practical skills that students will need in life- understanding how to work under a deadline, etc

Character traits! I have a friend who teaches first grade, and she said the entire first week's curriculum is just character traits. Students need to learn how to treat other humans

Basic topics that will allow students to be able to do anything they decide they'd like to (they won't be limited if they have a general understanding of math, art, english, music, history, languages, etc)

Skills and knowledge that will help better society

How do I learn?

By DOING

By taking the time to learn- studying, reading, discussing, asking questions; basically, putting in the "boring" hours.

By being instructed by those who have a greater understanding of the topic than I do.

Additionally, a teacher's attitude affects my desire to learn. If they are passionate about the material, if they help me to apply it, then I learn more from them.

By being forced to look at viewpoints and ideas that I hadn't previously considered.

Upon what foundations are the US public schools built?

Parens Partiae (the state acts as our "parent" when we can't protect ourselves on our own). The government, as our "parent", decided to be responsible for educating children ages 5-18.

That education is free

To provide an equalizing education for all citizens

However, location and funding isn't equal. Lower economic areas receive poorer education.

The idea that if we provide education for gifted students, they will later help improve the society we live in

Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness- aren't achievable without education, because education provides skills and opportunities that enable both success (standard of life), liberty to think on one's own (literacy allows for that), and the ability to find a job that is both enjoyable and provides enough money to not worry about becoming homeless or not having food to eat, etc (both of which greatly affect one's happiness)

What is the role of school in society?

To educate students ages 5-18 for free

To prepare children for adulthood

To help create effective members of society who can function in accordance with societal rules

To help create innovative thinkers who will come up with ways to improve daily life (idealist perspective of education)

To provide a basic understanding of the world and basic topics (literacy, math, etc)