Philosophy and Theory

I believe children learn best through play. When basic needs are met, children will thrive in a learning environment that is centered around the child's interests.  I also believe language development is critical to the child's abilities to learn and develop.  The main theories I use in my teaching are that of Lev Vygotsky, his zone of proximal development, learning through play, cultural importance, and that language is paramount for the early learner.

I also employ theories of B.F Skinner and his theory of operant conditioning and behaviors, Albert Bandura's theory of social learning, and Abraham Maslows' Hierarchy.   Together these theories along with Vygotsky create a learning conducive environment which meet the basic needs pf children first and allow language development and emergent literacy to take place.

I am passionate about children's literature.  In my classroom emergent literacy is paramount. I wholly prescribe to Skinner when he stated that "We should not teach great books; we should teach a love of reading"

For me, if a teacher can instill a love of books, this will carry the child through school. When we can read and enjoy books we can learn anything.  For this reason, my classroom is literature rich with opportunities for children to interact with literacy.

I have included Maslow in my favorite theorist, because although he was not a child developmental psychologist however , I believe in his Hierarchy.  A child must first have their basic needs met (food, safety) to be able to  learn.  For this reason I strive to provide a safe, healthy, and secure environment that encourages learning to emerge naturally.

Lev Vygtosky

 

"Henceforth play is such that the explanation for it must always be that it is the imaginary, illusory realization of unrealizable desires. Imagination is a new formation that is not present in the consciousness of the very raw young child, is totally absent in animals, and represents a specifically human form of conscious activity. Like all functions of consciousness, it originally arises from action."

 

B.F Skinner

 

"We should not teach great books; we should teach a love of reading"

 

 

Albert Bandura

 

"Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do. Fortunately, most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action."

 

Abraham Maslow

 

"We must understand love; we must be able to teach it, to create it, to predict it, or else the world is lost to hostility and to suspicion"