“Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson 
   

I have always valued the importance of an education. I promote learning in my household and I know my children have the abilities necessary to excel in school. I have instilled a new found passion for learning after enrolling into college. I now know the importance of being a life-long learner. 

My educational philosophy has not altered much during my collegiate career.  I firmly believe that every student that walks into my classroom has the ability to learn and has an area of intelligence in which he or she is capable of achieving success.  Students must feel comfortable in their learning environment.  I will provide a safe, warm environment for each of my students.  I know I will encounter students that have been given a negative label.  I will not judge these students based on these labels, nor will I apply such labels that could negatively impact a student’s academic career.  I strongly believe that a teacher’s role is not only to teach certain disciplines, but also to prepare his students socially for life outside of the classroom.

Since I will have a classroom of diverse learners, I will need to incorporate multiple teaching strategies and assessments to measure my students’ progress.  It is my responsibility to identify what strategies to use in any given year.  Differentiated instruction, a constructivist approach, and the use of traditional and alternative assessments are the strategies I will use in my classroom.

I know how valuable involving the family into the curriculum can be.  If a teacher can influence the parents and the students to discuss a lesson at the dinner table, that teacher impacts the students learning outside of the classroom.  The parents know that the teacher is dedicated to their children and they appreciate the commitment. 

I know that teachers influence and change the lives of each of their students that walk into the classroom.  I fully accept this responsibility as an educator and I look forward to impacting their learning and their future in a positive way.