There are many theories about child development and how children learn, and as an educator I believe that there is some truth in each philosophy. But I also believe that the main component of the way children learn is through socialization. Parents are the child's first teacher, they learn by example and by modeling their behavior after their parents. Social cognitive theory is the theory that fits most closely with my beliefs of how children learn, Albert Bandura introduced the theory that cognitive processes are connected to a child's environment. If you think about how children learn to speak, how they learn to walk, it is all done by imitation. I believe that this is the core of how children develop and learn.

Also in line with Bandura's thinking is the concept of self-efficacy, a student that believes in themselves is more likely to succeed. With that in mind I plan to ensure that my students always feel encouraged and safe in my classroom. I believe we have to promote a child's belief in themselves in order for them to learn and be successful in life, a student that believes in themselves is more likely to take the risks that are needed to get ahead in life. Just as Carol Gweck said children need to develop a growth mindset, a belief that through hard work and effort comes success, and that any of them are capable of anything. This is a belief that I will encourage, keeping in mind that some students may not get positive reinforcement outside of the classroom.

I believe that we have to take time to look at the world as if through the eyes of a child. As children pass through different stages of development they will change the way they look at matters, and the way they approach difficulties. As Piaget suggested children develop in stages, these stages are somewhat predictable so they allow us as teachers to accommodate our students more appropriately. I will always take into consideration the stages of development, and even at what point in each stage, that my students are in when planning lessons. It is important to have reasonable age-appropriate expectations for our students, according to where they are developmentally, while still meeting the Core Standards.

Santrock, J. (2014). Child development. (14th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.