These last few weeks, I have discovered myself along with a few things about education and who I really am or who I hope, to be as an effective educator. I’ve looked back at my own background in order to discover who I am and what my differences are from those around me. What the differences have to offer to others as a teacher. I have been blessed with growing up in a diverse background with mixture of cultures and beliefs. As a teacher I will bring a fair playing field to my classroom in order to give every student the opportunity to reach their full potential through an ethical belief of caring for the student as a whole. But how? In order to learn how to become an effective educator, one must look back over their own student life during school and pick out the qualities in teachers they enjoyed to model their own new path. So who am I as an effective educator? This question makes one look deep inside to evaluate their soul. If one is to become an effective educator, one must have the backbone of steel, the heart of an angel and the courage of a lion, yet be gentle as a lamb. I do see myself in each of these areas as an effective educator. I am a strong willed individual, which, was not something developed over night. Rather it was developed over a course of many years. When I see someone struggling to learn something, I want to reach out to them, take them to the side and help them to understand it the way I do. One must be courageous enough to take on the task of new
I know that every student is unique in his or her own way. and I must make sure I accommodate each student accordingly, so they can reach their fullest potential in my classroom. I believe that it is important to understand the differences in an individual's background, culture, and community. I must be thoughtful and mindful of the students’ background and beliefs and I have to be sensitive to all of the differences that exist from student to student in my classroom. I need to use what I know about these differences to create and strengthen my instruction. At the beginning of my internship, I made sure that I spent time my students, so I got to know everyone. By doing so, I found out their interests, backgrounds, and about their families.
several precepts for teachers by which they must guide their focus. By caring, Noddings writes, a teacher is pursuing, “an education for whole persons,” which, “must address social, emotional, and ethical issues, as well as academic.” (238, Educating Whole People) When teachers present several different viewpoints on controversial issues, teachers do not teach students to be relativistic. Rather, by empowering students to explore and navigate through the issues which are most important to them, teachers will inherently be showing students the importance
Educators should critically examine their own values, beliefs, and attitudes related to difference in diversity because we as individuals all have different experiences, beliefs, values and attitudes that can be quite diverse. Staying mindful of this difference is essential in professional practice. For this to really be effective, you need to critically reflect on how your own life events have shaped your beliefs, values and attitudes. Educators must put all assumptions and bias’s aside and keep an open mind when dealing with these differences. For example, by reflecting on your background, you can become aware of biases and prejudices that may impact on your relationship with others from different backgrounds. Once identified, you can then
“Be the change you wish to see in this world.” Gandhi. This quote resonates deep with me especially now that I have answered the call to become a teacher. Complaining about this generation’s lack of respect was a hobby of mine and becoming a teacher was never a part of the plan. Then life happened. However, before I dive into my testimony let me share a little bit about myself.
As a future educator, I feel it is important not just to practice this behavior in my dealings with students and the society at large. The consciousness for embracing the differences of humanity,
Race, ethnicity, religion, class, sexual orientation, ability, and gender have all impacted my life in ways beyond my total comprehension. However, I can begin to identify some of the notable interactions and effects and discuss the ways in which they might present themselves in my teaching practices. I am a White, European American, Christian, and heterosexual female without a medically ascribed disability. I can say that ultimately (and unfortunately) my cultural and physical identity is considered normative within the United States and has placed me on a path of privilege and power. Throughout my life, though, I have been fortunate to encounter other cultural groups in very meaningful ways. My international, religious, and family experiences have shaped my worldview most notably.
pupil may show signs of losing interest by looking around the room, fidgeting, trying to
Although I have made many positive changes these last few years, there is always room for growth. I found this apparent, as I have witnessed outstanding role models through the university. There is simply no ending point or “final” destination, when it comes to growing and working on your own faults. Therefore, I hope to take what I have learned from my past and college, and be able to continue to find ways of dealing with diversity in a professional manner. Knowing this, it is both exciting and frightening experience, especially knowing the many situations that are to come. However, I hope that I can take each encounter, and be able to learn to become the best role model a teacher can be for each student. I hope that each student, no matter their background, can feel as if they are welcome and accepted into the classroom. I also believe that the university has made tremendous strides to make this possible, especially assigning us classes that directly deal with diversity. In opportunities of mentoring, volunteering, and observations, I have been able to experience early on what it means to be a role model, in a diverse setting. The topic of diversity and this method of currere are extremely important, not only for myself, but also the students of the future. To understand diversity, you have to understand yourself. It is not a simple
Like it or not, there has always been diversity among students in the classroom. It is the fact that each and every student is unique. From every circumstance, students bring a varying set of values, perspectives, and beliefs to the learning environment. Understanding the character of students is important in order to become a competent teacher. In fact, teachers should be aware and recognize students, as unique individuals, all acquire information differently than others. Some of these differences are due to developmental variations in cognitive, physical, intellectual, moral, emotional, and social changes caused by maturation and experience. And this reality of classroom conditions makes instruction much more challenging for teachers and
Once students and teachers are aware of cultural differences, they become aware of racism and can fight to eradiate it. Through their unbiased understanding of the differences between cultures and races, they are able to come to a point of acceptance of themselves and others. If you noticed in my previous paragraph, I mentioned the different types of diversity. Diversity emphasizes how different students and teachers are, but when explored in a classroom, can be used to reveal our similarities. Once students and teachers grasp the concept of diversity, displayed through everyday interactions with diverse groups of students and teachers, racism begins to disappear. In addition, positive sense of self can be developed once students and teachers have an understanding of their own uniqueness through experiences and understanding of diversity. Once teachers and students
This past semesters has been an eye opening experience that has changed my views on teacher. Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to be a fourth grade teacher. However after being placed in a second grade classroom my views have changed. I liked the idea of teaching fourth grade because my fourth grade teacher was my inspiration in life. When I was in Ms. Petro’s class I enjoyed being able to watch the students progress over time. Being able to see the drastic improvements in little children is very rewarding and that is why I want to continue to teach lower grades. I have learned that being a teacher requires a special someone, a person who knows that sometimes you will have to deal with tough situations leaving you exhausted and feeling like you are not able to help more. But at the same time, being a teacher allows one to be a visionary for the world and those who surround you.
As beginning teachers, even though we cannot change whole school policy and practice, does not mean we cannot reflect our ideals and beliefs within our classroom and model our behaviour for others (Ashman & Elkins, 2008). As teachers we are particularly in a significant position where we can influence our students’ attitudes and have the opportunity to ultimately facilitate the change towards more inclusive communities and schools.
I believe education is one of the most important tools a person can have in life. Every child deserves to receive the best education possible. It has always been my passion to help each child discover their individual God given gifts and talents and to reach their full potential.
Teaching is a profession that is considered to be a rewarding challenging and complex role. An effective teacher does not simply teach knowledge their students and instead aims to arm students with the knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes that will prepare students for life-long learning. The constructivist theories developed by Piaget and Vygotsky have impacted on the way that teachers teach and this has changed the approach of teaching to place a greater importance on the teacher instead to act as a facilitator of learning in an open, constructivist environment and providing students with the tools to challenge themselves to develop both academically and personally. The education of students within classrooms of today is
Why am I a teacher? When I was a child I always had to pretend play school with my friends and I always had to be the teacher. My mom was a preschool teacher at the local day care center and I grew up seeing her cut bulletin boards and plan lessons. My best friend in middle school 's mom was also a teacher. I never wanted to be anything else and didn 't really have a back up plan if this teaching thing didn 't work out. In this paper I will take you on a journey through my educational years in elementary school and middle school, my time high school, delve into my time in college and then into my career as a teacher.