College of Education and Human Development

Reflections on the "Whole Child"

Virginia Teacher of the Year Melissa Porfirio was the featured speaker at George Mason University’s 2014 convocation ceremony for the Graduate School of Education. Porfirio earned her master’s degree in education from George Mason in 2005 and is a first-grade teacher at Crestwood Elementary in Fairfax County, Virginia.

She spoke to more than 400 graduating students, most of whom are pursuing education careers. 

Her speech was a personal, poignant description of the evolution of her approach to teaching. 

 

 

“I fundamentally believe in the importance of understanding the whole child. These are not just buzz words,” says Porfirio, recounting a shameful incident that she credits with shaping her philosophy. 

“We never fully know the home environment and what each child brings with him or her emotionally each day,” she says. “My classroom, and all schools, should be welcoming places that inspire each child to want to learn. Beyond that, our classrooms should be sources of support, places where students build on their confidence and belief in themselves and their abilities, places where they envision possibilities, and places where appreciation for all differences is cultivated." 

Porfirio talks about interacting with students outside of school as a way of learning about their family circumstances and understanding the things that make them who they are. She also cites research that supports her approach of emphasizing family involvement in a child’s education. 

“Each opportunity to see a student outside the classroom will give you an even greater understanding of your students’ interests, abilities, and personalities and how you can apply this data in the classroom to engage them and help them succeed,” she says. 

“Educators do not simply dispense information or just cover the standards,” says Porfirio. "Students do not arrive in our classrooms as blank slates to simply fill with information. They come with hopes and dreams and an inherent excitement for what they want to learn about. It takes careful thought and consideration to balance this style of teaching and learning within the context of prescribed standards, but you can do it.”

 

---

About CEHD

George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) includes two schools, the Graduate School of Education and the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism. The Graduate School of Education is one of the most comprehensive education schools in Virginia, will a full range of degrees, certificates, courses, and licensure programs that are available on campus, online, and on site. The college is fully accredited by NCATE and all licensure programs are approved by the Virginia Department of Education.

For additional information:

• CEHD Communications: cehdnews@gmu.edu
• Graduate School of Education: gse.gmu.edu

Follow CEHD on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MasonCEHD or Twitter at @MasonCEHD.