A Teacher of Children

     The classroom where I am teaching is a place of discovery and one that is student-centered. Children should believe that the classroom belongs to them. A place that is safe and accessible for all. As an educator, I value and respect every child that I encounter in my classroom. Children have a right to learn freely in an environment that respects and values them. In order to maximize a child’s potential and growth, I must nurture and educate him or her in a classroom that respects and honors individuality. By providing a positive place to learn and grow, each child’s dreams can become a reality through their own learning process.

     My classroom is an exciting place to learn. Using technology in the classroom energizes our daily learning. Students learn through their own exploration. I facilitate their learning by guiding children in cooperative learning experiences.

     Education is a life-long process for teachers, parents, and students. It is my desire to encourage and inspire children to become positive thinkers and life-long learners. All children have equal opportunities to learn. In our classroom, I provide children with a safety net, that allows them to take chances and risks in their educational process. It is so important to teach to the different modalities. Utilizing alternate teaching methods helps my children who have various learning styles.

     Using self-reflection, I assess my own teaching methodologies. It is so important for me to reflect, so that I am able to teach more effectively. Consulting peer and mentoring teachers enables me to learn and grow from other experienced educators. There is a direct correlation between my success and the success of my students. Each time I self assess, I learn and improve my teaching skills, which ultimately  reflects in the success of my students learning.

     In our classroom, students understand that they make a difference! Children realize that they have an important place in this world. They have a voice and they can through their actions become involved in change. We as a classroom can plan together and become involved in stewardship projects to help make a difference in our community. It is the hope that these collaborative projects will continue to inspire my students and encourage them to transform their world. The world is a beautiful place and as a collective body of individuals, we can all dream and work together!

     I abide by the Florida and Missouri Code of Ethics for the Education Profession. I understand that all the actions I take in my personal and public life directly influence my position as a role model in this community. Children and the community respect and revere teachers. I work very hard every day to earn that respect. I never want a student of mine to feel disappointed in me. A teacher is a very influential person in the life of a child. Keeping that in mind, I will use that thought as a guiding principle throughout my profession. It is an absolute joy and honor to inspire, dream, and laugh with them!