As an elementary educator, my goal is to give each child in my classroom a desire to continue learning.  They will be with me for one year, so in the span of that year I hope to make them confident in their abilities in each area.  Some will come through my door not knowing many of the basic skills necessary to further their education, and my aim is to aid these children in not only reaching their full potential, but also to have a passion and a drive for continuing on in school. 

 

These early years are critical for creating life-long learners, so as a teacher, I hope to draw children towards a life filled with excitement and fascination over the new and uncovered knowledge waiting to be discovered.  My desire is also to be an example to them of the benefits of being a life-long learner.  By the end of our year together, I want the children to look back and realize that they were having fun while learning.  In order to be successful in this endeavor, I must also demonstrate grace to the students as well as have a healthy respect for them, which is important for their growth and development.

           

Students have the potential to make an amazing contribution to the world, and I aim to see each one of them in this way.  I am not going to just adore every student that walks through my door, but I will love and respect him or her.  In this, hopefully, they will learn how to love and respect everyone that they come into contact with throughout their lives.  Being able to see someone as worthy is an important skill in life, so I want the students to get to know each and every student in the classroom over the year to show all of the students that each girl or boy is worth getting to know.  Respect goes beyond just getting to know someone though, so I want them to also see that each child’s views are valid and an important part of our classroom. 

 

Once we all respect each other, we are free to learn and make mistakes without being afraid of judgment or unsolicited criticism.  When they do begin to make mistakes, I am going to show them that it is part of the learning process.  I want them to know that they are safe to make these mistakes without feeling like I will think any less of them.  In turn, I hope that they are able to show me grace when I make mistakes.  The students need to understand that their work is not what validates them, and this will allow them to enjoy their learning.

 

My teaching style will also be a key to each student’s success because no two students learn the same way.  I will look for various explanations to each lesson to ensure all understand the lesson.  With these variations, hopefully, the students will be able to discover what works best for their success.  By creating a love for learning, an environment of respect and grace, and various methods for teaching lessons, I will aid students in success.