Cognitive development is something that will impact me the most as a teacher. As each child develops at different rates, I will need to structure my lesson plans to accommodate all learning needs. Some children have strong cognitive skills in math and others in reading. There will be times when I will have to change my method of teaching to accommodate each child. I believe that as a teacher it will be my job to stimulate each child’s interests and help them to develop their own personal style of learning. If I am reading a book in class, I will have the children do several activities and projects related to the book in order to meet the learning needs of all students. I will have the students write book reports and give narrative reflections of the book. This activity will help those students who struggle with writing and stimulate those who do not. I will have students do art projects related to the story. By building dioramas and creating models of characters, students will be able to place their hands on the content. They will see the story come to life. The simple act of reading the book helps children to hear how a story is supposed to be read and will help to develop language and dialect skills. The more involved I ask my students to become in each lesson, the greater number of chances they have to comprehend the content at their own level. It is my committed involvement to different learning styles and cognitive levels that will help every student thrive in my classroom.

While cognitive learning is an important part of development, it is only one aspect of what gives a child a rich learning experience. I must also consider the emotional development of my students. It is essential that I provide an environment where children want to come to learn. My students will have opportunities to share their thoughts and feelings in a non-threatening environment. My students will have daily journals in which they will write about a different topic everyday. There will be days when they reflect on something that has happened to them, and on other days they will be encouraged to freewrite. Because this journal will be based on their own feelings and opinions, there will be no wrong answers. Students will also have the option to share their journal entry with the class, which in turn helps the students get to know each other. I will ask students to be themselves and I will find ways to celebrate each child’s uniqueness. I will invite parents to help out in class and to share aspects of their lives that are interesting, such as cultural background and family traditions. Inviting parents to share their lifestyles with students will help the children take pride in who they are. Meeting with parents to share information about their child will give me insight to that child’s needs. This insight can help me provide an environment that is not only inviting, but also one that celebrates each child’s unique addition to the classroom. By understanding each child is an individual and has specific qualities to contribute to our classroom, I can be sure to give all children the opportunity to be themselves and thrive in an environment that enriches their self-esteem.

While cognitive and emotional developments are very important, I cannot ignore my part in a children’s physical development. I must be sure to keep students moving. While we will have a lot of time doing desk work, I will be sure to provide times when the children can move around the classroom. It is important to me that students have a variety of activities during the day. I will have students work in discovery centers that are placed in different areas of the classroom. I believe that children will learn best if given the opportunity to be mobile. Being able to move around and interact with the lessons being taught will help students to form concrete knowledge. I will be sure to use manipulatives in math in order to stimulate children’s fine motor skills. The use of manipulatives also helps children who learn better with hands on activities. My students will enjoy many activities that encourage movement, such as acting out stories and playing math musical chairs. The attention that I place on students’ physical needs coupled with the scheduled physical education classes will ensure that we are meeting the physical needs of our students.