“Children are twenty percent of our population and one hundred percent of our future”
–Cindy Chovich, the 2004
Students come to school with many hopes and dreams. Children want to become doctors, firefighters, astronauts, and professionals, people who will build the future. Becoming a teacher is very important to me so I can help both fulfill those hopes and dreams and also assist in the construction of the future of each of my students beyond the classroom. This goal requires understanding of the students, promoting creativity, providing positive physical and emotional surroundings, and incorporating effective classroom management, as well as supportive parental involvement. I desire to be a teacher who helps students to learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow.
Understanding the students’ individual needs is important to me. As a future teacher, I want to create many different opportunities for each student to reach their learning potential. Even though I am a kinesthetic learner, I will provide my students with lessons that accommodate all of the learning styles: kinesthetic, auditory, and visual. In my classroom, my students will learn about creativity and many ways to express it while still following the standards. I believe a creative, yet comfortable and welcoming classroom will help students learn more effectively and be excited to attend school. As John Updike noted, “Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right, or doing it better.” I believe a child’s education should be well rounded, therefore, I will meet the standards and integrate imagination, creativity, and technology into my lesson plans. The student’s desks will be arranged to avoid having a “real front” in the classroom. By moving among them, I can involve and engage my students. Once engaged, they will enjoy school and hopefully continue on with a positive learning experience throughout their schooling. Throughout my classroom, there will be centers to meet each student’s individual needs and promote positive physical and emotional surroundings.
Effective classroom management is vital to the success of a teacher. I will develop my own unique methods of classroom management that will fit the needs of my students and my expectations as a teacher. Because I believe that education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence (Robert Frost), in my classroom, I will have basic rules and boundaries so the students have structure, but do not become overwhelmed. Organizational skills will be part of my classroom management. I will make sure my students will learn to organize their thoughts as well as their work. Maintaining flexibility will ensure students are comfortable and want to learn. I believe respect cannot be learned, purchased or acquired--it can only be earned (Bits & Pieces), therefore, I will teach and demonstrate respect to my students so they may learn by example and earn my respect. I will help my students create a community among themselves to promote unity, bonding, and acceptance by working together and learning about each other in groups. Within this community, my students will be taught to develop social and emotional positive attitudes by the strong friendships they form. The community will help students become more confident in their ways of growing and learning. I will promote positive learning and encourage confidence through awards and praising.
An excellent, effective education requires continual involvement from the teacher and parents. After the students learn about respect, rules, and organization in the classroom, if it is not reinforced and valued in the child’s home and outside the classroom, the students will not likely be able to reach their full learning potential. Helping the parents of my students to be more aware of their child’s education and progress will continue to guide the students to a bright future. Starting on the first day of school, I will begin developing relationships with each of their parents to convey my commitment to their child and to ensure their support in their child’s education. I could always use parents’ help in my classroom, and I will encourage it whenever I can. Providing multiple ways of communication is essential. I will send out newsletters stating what their child is learning and ways to help the student make progress at home and at school. I will send out e-mails, make myself available to the parents by phone and in person before and after school if needed.
A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart. My goal as a teacher is to understand my students’ individual needs, promote creativity, develop effective classroom management techniques, provide positive physical and emotional surroundings, and encourage parental involvement. I believe this is what it takes to be a successful teacher and to have a positive classroom learning experience. I hope that after my students leave my classroom they will feel excited and challenged, ready for new experiences and to have a new found respect and confidence for others as well as themselves. I will always be a positive role model and practice what I preach. I know as a teacher I will help build the future!
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