Philosophy of Teaching Twelve years ago, I was not interested in becoming a teacher. I was satisfied with my life. Then I had two wonderful children. As they became school age, my opinion of teachers changed immensely. I spent countless hours in my children's school, became personally connected to the wonderful people who were their teachers, and developed a respect for these tireless workers. These people created in me the desire to improve the lives of children and society through education. Children are the blessings of life. All children have the ability to learn. Just as all children are individuals, they also have different individual learning styles. A successful teacher must possess the necessary skills and personal drive to recognize these differences in ability and provide an appropriate educational experience for all students. To be a successful teacher, I plan to incorporate four main philosophies into my classroom. They include behaviorism, essentialism, social reconstructionism, and progressivism. I believe a blend of the four will create an essential environment for the broadest educational experience a teacher can offer. First of all, I chose behaviorism. Behaviorism was developed primarily by Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner. They believed that through conditioning through rewards and punishments, educators could establish control over students' behaviors. Using systems of rules, rewards and punishments within the classroom is a constructive way to gain control over the classroom. By producing rewards for children to encourage appropriate behavior, they will be more likely to strive for achievement rather than sit back…up to date on the latest teaching methods so I can be the successful instructor I want to be. Through my children, I have been able to realize that some children are less fortunate than others. Often children do not have positive role models in their lives. A strong and positive experience in early education is an important element in encouraging a child to continue the learning experience. My goal with my students is to provide them with a positive role model and nurture their imagination. Overall, my educational philosophy is eclectic. I feel that by using many different philosophies and methods, I will be a more effective educator. I will always strive to create the ideal classroom for my students to be successful in their education. The success of my students will be an indicator of my success as a qualified educator.