Instructional Methods

There are a lot of ways and methods to demonstrate Progressivism in the classroom, here listed are some examples of what i would have in my classroom while I put progressivism into practice.

•  Doing at least one group work project as well as at least one single project based-learning assignment. 
• Doing active learning as a class or doing games like Jeopardy or other games to help prepare for a test or quiz. 
• Doing outdoor activities for a class. Things I would do for a class outside would be drawing certain things outside that we may be learning about in a unit, or seeing where certain animals or creatures live outside. For example if we are doing a unit on ponds and creatures that live in swamp/pond areas I would take them outside to a near pond or nature trail and show them the actual thing. 
• Letting students choose a topic of a certain unit we may be learning to do a project or presentation on, there for it lets them choose something that might sound interesting to them to learn about more. 
• Reward the students for the goals they achieve with the rules for positive concequences that together we assign as a class. Such as following all classroom rules and treating others with respect and kindness, and helping students with anything they are having trouble with. 

Classroom Management

       It is important to have a well put together management in your classroom for you students. If you are a teacher who believes in a progress ism learning environment making rules for a classroom is a great way to start off by getting your students actively involved with running the classroom together. A way to do that is to have them all come together and as a class come up with rules together that they all think would be good to follow to create a safe a secure environment, as well as consequences if those rules are broken so there is no surprise for what will happen if the rules are broken. Teachers also should have discipline rules of there own without students having a part in it, such as having to contact a parent or guardian if needed to, or having to send them to a principal or higher authority of the school.
      Also creating positive consequences/ rewards for a students good behavior or achievements in class is a good way for the students to actively come up with rewards together. It helps them get motivated and makes them look forward to positive things.
       If i had my own classroom and I was to put in these methods for managing a classroom in a progressiveness way I would want the students to actively be involved with helping come up with classroom rules that are fair and that everyone agree's with. The first day of class I would do that with them, it would be a great first step to get them all talking and thinking together sort of a "break the ice" method too. Also having them help come up with rewards and positive consequences for there personal achievements.
    Some examples for discipline of kids in the classroom would be if a student is not listening and keeps talking to there fellow classmate/friend while i am trying to give a lesson and teach the kids after I have had to tell them numerous times to please pay attention, then I would send them on the other side of the classroom or outside of the classroom for a break or "time out" until they can know they need to listen and they will have time to socialize later when lesson time is over, or if it happened more then once a day they would have to stay in at recess time or lunch time to show there will be consequences if classroom rules are not followed.
    An example of a positive reward/consequence for a students personal achievement that the class could potentially come up with would be if they have done all there homework without missing any assignment over a certain amount of time then they would be issued a "homework pass". It would be a pass they could use once to excuse themselves from doing any homework assignment they choose over the year. Another one that could get the class as a whole to work together, we could a certain goal of stars or points for the class to earn as a whole by the end of a year and if we achieve it then we could take a class field trip. I would set up activities or many opportunities for the class and students as individuals could recieve points or awards. Such as small quizzes every week, or to do all there homework and right, to behave nicely and respectfully with other students. Also as a class for a whole to act respectfully and listen well when we go to assemblies with the rest of the school.

My Teaching Philosophy

         While learning about a lot of different teaching philosophies in class, it made me decide which one I would most likely practice as a teacher and what I agree with when it comes to teaching children. Progressivism is the philosophy I would like to put into practice.The age group I want to teach is elementary school children, either 1st-3rd grade, and I think Progressivism a great teaching philosophy and style for this age group, because it will not only give them a jump start on knowing what they truly may be interested in, but it helps grow a teacher/student inter-personal relationship so they are more likely to want this in there future schools and classes and less likely to act out and not do well in school. A teacher/student inter-personal relationship is a big part of Progressivism, because when you are acting more a mentor and helper to a student instead of a "boss" or an authority to them all day they are more likely happy to be in your class and happy to have you there. Progressivism is the teaching style in which a teacher is more of mentor and helps the student then just a person talking to them for 7 hours a day in front of a classroom. It is when they want students to learn and choose what they want to learn by what interests them, because when a student is learning about what they are interested in then they are more happy to learn and go to school. Ronald Wolk author of the book "Wasting Minds" was a big progressive believer and also had an amazing theory about having the students create "pathways" which gives the students a say in there own education and curriculum, so they would get to choose there own courses by what they want to learn to help them in the future for where they want to go in life. As he quoted "Pathways give students a say in their own education and a chance to discover and pursue their passions." –Wolk (Pg 116).

Maria Montessori at the University of  Rome

      I believe that every student learns differently and has unique needs and interests, and us as teaching have a job to teach them things they need to know. But since that every student does not learn the same it is our jobs as teachers to help them at the pace they need to go at. This is also what philosopher Maria Montessori believed in while studying at the University of Rome while earning her medical degree. She also believed that a role of a teacher she be "downplayed" as a role of a lecturer and they should create more of environment for children learn by doing activities and projects. So instead of just sitting up in front of a classroom and lecturing them it is important to have them actively participate in class with educational activities that can be educational and    fun for them, this is called "hands on learning" it also benefits them in   the social part of schooling, while also it can help a student experiment and explore interest they may have and want to   learn more about!  
      Students are constantly learner, even outside of the classroom they are leaning from things they see, hear and do.
      Also when a student finds something they are enjoying learning about and is an interest to them is what is very important for a student to learn. The process of them learning it is far more important then the item or product itself, because they are going to learn well and more about it if they are enjoying learning about what they are interested in.