I believe that my life experiences and own education have taught me that if I can make a lesson connect with each student on a personal level, and have the content be in-depth, then I have achieved the purpose of teaching in that moment. My ultimate goal is to make sure that the lesson can be teachable to more than just the average student; it should be tailored for differentiation and creativity. It is the student’s purpose to actively pursue her/his education to the extent of the lessons taught. Within the classroom, learning occurs with more than just textbook readings -- there are many other experiences to affect and impact how learning takes place.
Students are not in a small social bubble as they were many years ago. Classes and communities are becoming more and more diverse ethnically and in learning styles, calling on a greater need for acceptance of these learning differences. Assisting students in their learning can be a fun and rewarding experience. For example, creativity is a great way for students to access their writing capabilities. Students have a desire to learn through expression. In the Language Arts setting, this is entirely possible because of the range of options teachers can use in this subject. One example of expression is through creative writing. Creative writing is a fantastic way to
I envision myself as someone who tries to be as optimistic towards others as possible. A simple compliment or a positive word to someone can have a major impact. This is a major trait that I want to convey to the students in the classes I will teach someday. This is a great way to keep the class interested and on topic.
Being someone that students can look up to is huge in some instances of families, because not all father-figures are present in large numbers of the lives of families. This fills in that vital gap needed to keep students on the track for social and scholastic success. Being a role model for the class is a great privilege, but with this influence, there is a high level of expectation. They will look at you not just for what you say, but more so what you do. Actions speak louder than words. Especially since students tend to mimic the adults they are around the most, why not have them mimic a positive, joyful person who can accomplish great things? It allows students to view me the same way I would view them, as individuals who are pursuing an education for lifelong achievement, even though they might not realize it at the time.
One way to express this idea is through creating, along with a fun and uplifting classroom energy, a formal expectation of what I need to do for the students and what they should expect. A social contract for my class would be a fantastic way to get students to critically think about what it means to treat people as individuals and to eliminate social and ethnic biases that students might receive from their environment. This would provide the opportunity for them to predetermine what will happen in the classroom to some extent, allowing for a certain freedom in the lesson plan. Freedom gives students fun, fun gives students motivation; motivation gives more opportunities for participation. I would enjoy the idea of having a “fact of the day” moment in my classroom. This gives the students a chance to learn their own way. There is no set way they learn, it just is not so. Making the lesson easier to understand and incorporating fun generates ideas for classroom discussions and allows students, as one of my favorite professors once told me, to “flex the creative muscle of the brain.” It excites them to see that there are other things to learn about beyond school subjects. This inspires students to become active participants in education and life.
One of the most influential factors in my career choice happened in fourth grade. I had been struggling academically, and someone else knew this as well. One teacher, Mr. Vandenberg, decided that I was better than the effort I was giving. During one of his classes, I was pulled aside. He offered words of encouragement and inspiration to transform my life and educational career drastically. I also started applying this concept to other areas in my life, and was absolutely amazed with the results.
The standards for my future career and goals are set high, and are realistic. This means extra effort to make sure each student is well-prepared for their future academic career before they leave my classroom on the final day. I enjoy seeing others succeed and strive to convey excellence in their personal and educational lives. If I can teach effectively to the entire class, and make the lesson unique and relevant, then I have reaffirmed what I believe.