Personal Reflection on Teaching. Based on the Teaching Up for Excellence (Tomlinson Javius, 2012) article, what are your personal beliefs on teaching up for ALL students? Have you ever had an experience where a teacher (or any other person in your life) believed in you and it made a difference in your learning, education, or life? How did that experience change you and what you believe about others? In what ways can you plan for believing in all students and teaching in a way that respects and stimulates all learners?…
To better support learners development educators should work collaboratively with students, and families. As well, teachers should work with other school professionals to plan curriculum to better meet the diverse needs of learners. “The teacher advocates to meet the needs of learners, to strengthen the learning environment, and to enact system change” [InTasc]…
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with students of different ethnicities, different socio-economic backgrounds and special education. I have also worked with high school students of various sexual orientations. Working with different people has shaped my identity by becoming aware that we are all different and that is what truly makes society beautiful. It has shaped my self-awareness by connecting me with my true desire in life. That is why I extremely passionate to help children and young adolescents achieve success. My experiences have broadened my understanding of the role in social work in society because I feel one can do so much for others. I have gained enough experience, which allows me to believe that I have the flexibility and adaptability to work with different populations. My previous experience has influenced my understanding of and commitment to social justice because it is sad to witness children with a 30,000-word gap deficit come into my classroom as opposed to children from higher social economic statuses who have a larger array of vocabulary. Then as they get older we see this gap widened regardless of ethnicity based on social economic status and students who are learning English as a second language. I want all children to have the same access to an amazing…
Maya Angelou once said “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” While Angelou was not simply talking about teacher and student relationships, I think that this quote follows my philosophy on classroom management very closely. I believe that as a teacher, it is crucial to have a system of positive motivation in the classroom. There are two main parts to my classroom management philosophy, one that clearly shows how discipline works in my classroom, and the other that clearly shows how everything else will work in the classroom interpersonally. The Discipline with Dignity approach aligns closely with my belief that if a teacher gets to know students as people, there will be fewer…
Pursuing something new is fun and exciting, especially if the pursuit positively impacts someone else. I am grateful for the opportunity to re-enter grad school, this time at the doctorate level, to realize a dream that I’ve had since the beginning of my teaching career. My goal is to be sharp, skilled, creative and effective as a teacher and leader so that I can significantly influence the organization and overall culture of my school, other teachers, students, and the community. A necessary attribute of a great teacher should be the desire to seek ways to improve learning for all children. I am committed to learning and developing the knowledge and skills that a great leader needs to make a difference in education. I believe all students can have academic success.…
Since I was initially a nursing student when I entered college, I had never considered becoming a teacher. Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted a career where I could serve others, and I always believed that being a nurse would allow me to achieve this goal. Still, I fell in love with the education field the moment I started volunteering and aiding in my aunt's classrooms, which they taught grades TK– 4. I immediately changed my major because it makes me feel extremely fortunate to think that one day I would be able to teach, laugh, and help my kids in the same manner that my aunts do. To begin with, I worked as a student intern, as a tutor for the Advancement Via Individual Determination program for four years.…
Teaching students to take a stand for what they believe in will create a real change in our current society. Upholding this value will open doors for success in this generation and those to come. Taking lessons from people in history, such as Coolidge, will lay the ground work for our country to grow. It is important to never remain silent. By speaking out, we can be the voice for those suffering in our society, we can build our integrity, and we can protect our self-confidence. Always remember, and live by, what Silent Cal said in his 1st speech to the Massachusetts State Senate, “Don’t hesitate to be as revolutionary as science,” and make a difference in someone’s…
Having continued focus and commitment, I exhibit advocacy by serving as a constituent in leadership, being a facilitator, and partaking as an active role model. However, as a student at Walden University, I have made the difference by initiating the opportunity to enhance my skills and knowledge. Likewise, this knowledge…
I face the criticism of classmates when they say things like,”it is no longer our {the senior class} responsibility to fight for students’ right, Soon we will be off at college and this won’t matter at all.” I disagree with their assertions because I feel that as soon to be CPS alums, we need not to forget where we came from and try our best to uplift a system that is constantly…
After being exposed to literature about education, I have realized how complex it is to educate others. Not only do teachers have a responsibility to teach what is required, but to do so while appreciating and encouraging diversity within the classroom. By reading Blackburn, Freire, Lake, and Sensoy, I have learned that teaching requires far more than surface level thinking. A teacher must be able to teach common core standards while differentiating instruction for the multiple types of learners that appear in a classroom. Furthermore, teachers must take an interest in each and every one of their students and learn who they are as a person. It is a teacher’s job to encourage their students to be their true selves, while also encouraging equality…
A major component of my philosophy of education in general is the need to build meaningful relationships with students. I am firm in my beliefs that students must feel a personal connection to their teachers. When mutual trust and respect between students and teachers flourishes, two important phenomena occur. First, teachers are able to allow students more freedom and independence in the learning process, without worrying that classroom management will be compromised by a particular activity. In addition, students develop a positive attitude toward the class, and feel assured that the learning that takes place on a daily basis will be understandable, fun and…
I must first remind you of the unrest among our fellow students before I begin to examine the pandemonium we currently suffice as home. Our generation is at war with the complicated reality of this stringent society and we must no longer allow mainstream practices to dictate our freedom. The time is now for us to shed the constraints of our parents’ generation and provide a change that will bring authenticity to America’s youth! We standup not just for ourselves but for those of tomorrow and to change the norms of today.…
In conclusion, observing the classroom motivated me to continue on the path of becoming a teacher so that I could one day make a difference in the lives of children. I want to be a strong influence on younger kids in particular, because I enjoy working with them the most. Plus they’re…
As I consider the road that is ahead of me, I am thrilled with excitement and eager to explore the many opportunities that lay ahead of me. Most of all, I am passionate about the structure of my future classroom and objectives I plan to tackle in my future career. I feel I owe my students the best possible upbringing and education. They deserve a stimulating and supportive environment that brings out the best in them. I want to encourage my students to broaden their imaginations and reach for goals they considered unattainable. I will strive to instill morals in my students and encourage them to treat each other and their community with respect and understanding. My students will be my primary responsibility - their needs will be placed before my own and their development will be my priority.…
Concerning the nature of students, I believe all children are not born with the same level of intelligence, but all children have the capacity to learn. I do not think that children are born entirely good or entirely bad. A child is influenced by his surroundings, and models his behavior to match the people closest to him. Knowledge is relative, and the level of success a child achieves in school is directly correlated to the amount of support and encouragement he or she receives at home. Public education serves a variety of different functions. Most importantly, education helps to shape children into competent, self-sufficient adults. Schools reflect and promote society’s values. Important social skills needed in the work force and everyday life are learned at school, such as sharing, compromise, and the importance of teamwork. As a student, I want to encourage and help children to reach their full potential. I want students to realize that they are all different, and understand that diversity is a good thing. I believe that there are different types of intelligence, and creativity is just as important as logic. Teachers’ behavior should reflect values such as tolerance, compassion, forgiveness, and open-mindedness. Effective communication skills are needed to encourage students to share their concerns. Teachers should not try to persuade students with their personal points of view, nor should they shy away from showing students that they have strong beliefs. An ideal classroom environment is one that allows students to feel free to express individual beliefs. Concerning discipline, research shows the time spent disciplining students is negatively related to achievement. Flexibility is an important aspect of discipline. Constantly taking away privileges and threatening punishment can cause students to feel intimidated and victimized. I consider my attitude towards education to be eclectic. I agree with the idea that people learn best from what they consider most…