Monkey See, Monkey Do

I find that I am being challenged within my classes—having to think in different ways, discovering new approaches to different aspects of life and learning valuable, immensely interesting information that is so applicable to my passions in life; all toward my future career goals. I have most recently been challenged with the concept of hidden curriculum. My professor brought this aspect of teaching into my “Principles Of Teaching And Learning” (EDUC 200) class, of which I was intrigued. I never took into account the non-verbal values, actions and attitudes that I am also demonstrating to my students. I have really adopted this concept, and taken it seriously as I look forward toward my career. A large part of my teaching philosophy is surrounded around building good stewards of society, of which will strive to influence the future in a positive direction, based out of love and respect for one another. In order to portray this to my students I cannot just talk about it, I must act upon it as well. At the young elementary age students are very “monkey see, monkey do”. I hope that I can be an encouraging and positive monkey for my students to follow. This challenges me to think before I do and say anything around my students, as my influence is more than I have previously realized.

---