For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. The thought of teaching others about all of the interesting facts, knowledge and information that is out there in our world is what motivates me the most. I view being a teacher as a right that is earned through hard work and dedication to your students. I also believe that not everyone holds the ability to be a good teacher. Therefore, I feel as though I am very privileged to have the abilities necessary to teach and support my students as learners. Over the past few years, I have learned how much work actually goes into being a dedicated and well-rounded teacher. I have also developed a personal philosophy of what I believe is essential when it comes to teaching and being an educator.

 

     I believe that the success of my students begins by creating a classroom community that is safe, inviting and accepting of all the diversity my students will bring. To create this classroom community, it is important that I form a positive relationship with each student, in order to help build an environment that promotes active learning from all students. Currently, I accomplish this by involving my students in the development of classroom expectations, so that they will have ownership of the behavioral guidelines. Additionally, I support my students in establishing relationships among their peers, so they feel more comfortable in seeking help or confirmation from one another. The relationships I build with my students, and the relationships they build with each other, are essential components of my classroom community through which encouragement is provided and learning is guided and supported.

 

     To guide and support my students in their journey as a successful student, I continually strive to provide authentic learning experiences in my classroom on a daily basis. This involves integrating a variety of instructional styles and subject areas into the curriculum to provide engaging and meaningful learning experiences, while still meeting the needs of all my students. Furthermore, I adapt and differentiate content-area and behavioral expectations as necessary for the students in my classroom. By understanding that each student has their own strengths, abilities and background knowledge I can support them personally and individually as a learner.

 

     Just as I support each and every one of my students in their individual learning and growth, I work towards fostering positive relationships with staff members at my school to help promote my own personal growth and learning as a professional teacher. I recognize the collaboration of teacher colleagues as one of the most important areas in developing as a professional. This is a way which I am able to acquire new and useful knowledge, as well as share what I know with others to help them in their quest to develop as professionals in education.

 

     As I have gotten farther into my journey of being a teacher, I have had the chance to appreciate it more and more. I know that as long as I am teaching, I will discover new teaching practices and face many challenges in using those new teaching practices. But this is what excites me the most. Knowing that I will have the chance to use everything I have learned to teach others in ways that will benefit them, and foster their growth in learning, is what keeps me going at the end of each day. My goal is for students in my classroom to enjoy learning, believe in their abilities, and learn from their discoveries. By building individual relationships with each student, I will encourage students to celebrate their ability to learn and develop as a unique individual in today’s society.