Your child’s teacher has the potential to influence the next generation of young minds.  This responsibility requires that the teacher ensures their influence creates lifelong learners who are prepared to grow and learn.  There is potential in all students. Education should be available to all children. As one of the many influences in student’s lives, teachers must ensure the classroom is safe and supportive, inclusive to all and ensures that the learning environment values diversity and equality. A person can create an environment that is useful, beneficial and conducive to the welfare of society. That is the goal of the classroom and, also of the teacher. Erasmus believed that it would be a great misfortune to not have the sense enough to speak well because what is spoken is spoken to a hundred ears. Children are like a sponge and what they hear, and what is taught and said to them will impact them for the rest of their lives.

 

     Uniqueness, individuality and creativity should be celebrated! Children need to be shown that regardless of their circumstances or backgrounds they can succeed! Children are very observant and they should be taught a love for learning early in life. Striving to provide learning experiences that caters to the diversity of the students, their interests and their learning styles is a top priority. Friedrich Froebel said it best when he stated, “Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of a child’s soul.”

 

     Building relationships need to be positive and respectful and are vitally important for successful interactions between students, their peers, parents and the community. Group work is the key to having a successful class and it is something that should be valued and enjoyed. Students need to be taught in a straightforward way, but in a way, that also gives them room to grow, expand on their own and use the tools and gifts they already have. Teachers need to help them to expand these tools and gifts in the classroom.

 

     Collaboration allows students to utilize the strengths and insights of other people. Collaborations leads to increased learning, improvement and understanding.  Relationships with colleagues will be fostered and utilizing the vast wealth of knowledge and benefit from the experience of peers and parents is a top priority.

 

     While collaboration and conformity are extremely important, students throughout the course of the year will learn how to pose their own questions and answer them and work independently.  John Calvin said it well that conformity may work well when trying to spread a religion, but it does not work well when it comes to teaching students. As a teacher, it is important to not only help the students that are in the class, but to also give them direction to help others as well. Everyone has the ability to create their own purpose and it is up to the teacher to guide the students in doing so.

 

     When possible, members of the community will be invited in to take their place in the class.  Realism and reality can be found and taught in the local community. It is important to connect with the local community, their culture, history and the diverse experiences they bring.  

 

     As a teacher in the digital age, today’s technology will be implanted in ways that compliment and enhances the standards and increase the effectiveness of teaching and improve student learning.  Personal reflection to improve practice and ensure that adaption can take place to the constant changes in education throughout life and the teaching journey.

 

     Children deserve the best education.  They do not deserve the same old thing that may not be working.  Our children are much more valuable than that.  I consider teaching to be my calling in life, and I consider it an honor to educate and watch your child grow each day.  I believe anyone can learn – no matter what – and this belief has helped me to learn and grow as a teacher in the classroom.  My role as your child’s teacher is to guide them toward independent thinking.