Just as a favorite place, favorite person, or an incredible feeling just
get into your heart, teaching, “just gets in you.” This is a quote
that I came up with when I first felt the warm feeling of desire to become
a teacher. I saw that glimmer of excitement in one child’s eye, and
I saw the warm, wholehearted smile on one child’s face, after I helped
them learn the slightest bit of knowledge. This is why I want to
be a teacher, to touch the lives, of not only the children, but of all
the people that they touch as well. I want to help all the people
who will allow me to help them.
I didn’t always want to be a teacher, but from my experiences at Appalachian
State University and in local classrooms, I have learned that the only
place for me is in the classroom. No other profession could ever
warm my heart and keep me energized more than the teaching profession,
and a profession, it certainly is.
Above all, in my classroom, I will aspire to be a professional, consistent
teacher who displays character, love, compassion, an appreciation of knowledge,
and one who especially, teaches others to value and understand other’s
differences. Along with professionalism come rules, set procedures,
and discipline. My classroom will be a place where all of these exist.
I will plan to take time at the beginning of each school year for my students
to brainstorm their ideas of the rules that should be set in our classroom
for that year. If the process is democratic, they will feel compelled
to follow them, and they will possess more of an ownership of the classroom
than if the rules are posted with no student input.
These rules must display consistency. I will be a teacher, and not
the friend of the children. I will be there for my students, by showing
them love and compassion, but there is a line between teachers and students,
and I will be the teacher who does not cross that line.
I will teach my students character education, a subject area of which I
firmly believe. I believe that traits such as honesty, respect, and
courage should be enforced in the classroom, because for some children,
these do not exist at home. I want my children to have strong opinions,
but be able to respect other’s opinions. I will teach them to treat
everyone fairly and emphasize the Golden Rule. As a teacher however,
I will model these traits always.
Modeling is more essential than many people think. Children notice
more than adults believe they do, so it is important to “practice what
you preach,” even if it is something as little as using accurate handwriting
on the board, or overhead. Teaching is like a game of follow the
leader. The teacher is always a leader, and often, the most important
role model students may have.
The power of knowledge is another key element encompassed within my thoughts
on education. In my classroom, children will realize and understand
that knowledge is fundamental. Children need to understand that being
intelligent, is being “cool.” This needs to be engraved in their
heart, so they will grow up to be, and feel, successful.
My classroom will not only be a warm, inviting, student-centered environment,
but it will always be a welcoming place for all. I plan to have mostly
a student-centered classroom environment, and will spend the first couple
of weeks of school, in a state of creation, so the work on the walls and
bulletin boards will be primarily the work of the children.
The classroom I plan to create will welcome people from all backgrounds
and cultures, so the learning environment will be an inviting. Diversity
is a key issue in schools. Children need exposure, and need to learn
to appreciate others’ differences.
There are so many elements to a successful learning situation. I
believe that my classroom will be a flourishing room, full of life, love,
and learning. The children, as I, will come ready for a challenging,
yet fulfilling educational experience. The feelings of love and excitement
that I experience when I am around children in a classroom, will hopefully
get into them, just as teaching has “gotten into me.”