"Children must be taught how to think, not what to think." ~Margaret Mead   This quote sums a lot of things up for me as an educator.  I want to be more than a person that delivers information to students, but instead be a facilitator that gives children the inspiration to learn on their own and be life long learners.  I believe that it is our responsibility as educators to instruct students in a positive and empowering environment which allows them to see and reach their highest potentials. This can be reached through implementing a variety of teaching strategies, engaging and hands-on activities, and authentic assessments into daily standards-based lesson plans.  Also, it can be reached through meeting the needs of each individual student, including ability level and learning style, and by constantly making connections.  These things will create opportunities for all learners and will make learning more meaningful, which is my goal.