After a great deal of thought and discussion, here is what we came up with as a framework for thinking about and writing your philosophy statement. There was a part of us that rebelled against giving you this document. You need to realize that we have never done this before, as we believe this philosophy statement must come from the "heart." Our preference still is to let you come up with a statement based on your own self-reflection and soul-searching. We hope this framework does not counter your creativity and we hope you only use it as a means of thinking more deeply about your teaching and the philosophy with which you base your teaching decisions. It is not a hierarchy.

Why You Teach

• What is the purpose of education?
• What is your role as an educator?

Whom You Teach

• How will you reach the diverse children in your classroom?
• How do you define your community of learners?

How and What You Teach

• What are your beliefs about how children learn?
• How will your beliefs affect your teaching?
  • management
  • instructional strategies
  • curriculum design
  • assessment
  • etc.
• How do you balance the needs of the individual learner with the needs of the classroom community?
• What are your goals for students?

Where You Teach

1. How will you bring a global awareness into your classroom?
2. What will be your relationship with the community, parents, teaching colleagues, administration?